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The cover gas space is an inert isolation layer provided for sodium systems in sodium-cooled fast reactors. During normal reactor operation, sodium aerosols are generated continuously in the cover gas space. Understanding the complex dynamics of the evolution and transport of the aerosol is essential from the perspective of the reactor operation. Such assessments provide vital insights into deposition patterns of aerosols to the components mounted on the roof slab. In the present manuscript, the evolution and transport of aerosol in the cover gas space as well as in roof-slab annular gaps are studied in detail with the help of computational fluid dynamics tool. The present model is validated against the experimental data from the literature. There is good agreement between temperature variation, aerosol number and mass concentration across the cover gas height. Post validation, the study of thermal and aerosol transport in the full-scale reactor cover gas for a medium-sized reference reactor is carried out. It is observed that aerosol sizes greater than ∼31 μm are mostly concentrated near either the sodium pool surface, component wall or near the vessel boundary. It is found that the average mass concentration in the cover gas space is uniform (∼ 29 g/m3). However, the annular regions are found to have a non-uniform distribution of aerosols with heavier particles confined to the lower annular regions in wavy like patterns having the same Count Mean Diameter (CMD) as in the bulk cover gas space. The CMD in the top annular regions is ∼ 2 μm. Copyright © 2023 American Association for Aerosol Research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria in Pregnancy (MiP) leading to morbidity and mortality is a major public health problem that poses significant risk to pregnant women and their fetus. To cope with this alarming situation, administration of Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) drugs to pregnant women as an intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) from 16 weeks of gestation is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. We conducted a comprehensive search of published articles related to MiP in last 10 years with predefined keywords or their synonyms. The mapping of malaria in pregnant women showed a prevalence rate up to 35% in many countries. Although IPTp-SP has been implemented in endemic regions since several years but the IPTp-SP coverage percentage vary from country to country and continue to remain below the target of 80%. Major reasons for low IPTp-SP involve gestational age at first prenatal visit, level of education, place of residence, knowledge of IPTp-SP benefits, and use of antenatal services. Several challenges including the emergence of septuple and octuple SP-resistant parasites is reported from many countries which make the prophylactic use of IPTp-SP currently debatable. This narrative review addresses the barriers for optimal use of IPTp-SP and discusses alternative approaches to increase the use and effectiveness of SP intervention for preventing MiP. The COVID pandemic has drastically affected the public health disrupting the management of diseases worldwide. In view of this, a brief summary of COVID impact on MiP situation is also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) nanoparticles were mixed with a stock paste containing an acrylate-based binder to prepare pigment paste. The formulated paste was applied to the cotton fabric by utilizing screen printing followed by drying and curing. The coated fabric was characterized for surface and elemental composition and uniform deposition of BaTiO3 nanoparticles was observed with minimal agglomeration. The resultant fabric showed an effective bacterial reduction greater than 99% against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and after 15 laundering cycles, the modified fabric showed a bacterial reduction of over 98%. The loaded fabric is capable of blocking harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiations. The modification of the cotton surface did not significantly change its intrinsic properties like water vapor permeability, air permeability, fabric stiffness, and other mechanical properties. The developed product has considerable possibilities and provides a good substitute for antibiotic materials for use in medical products and everyday apparel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In search of selective carbonic anhydrase (CA) IX inhibitors endowed with apoptotic inducing properties, we designed and synthesised two subsets of 4- and 3-(5-aryl-(4-phenylsulphonyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)benzene-sulphonamides. All compounds were assayed for human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) isoforms I, II, IV, and IX inhibition. Isoforms hCA I and hCA IV were weakly inhibited by most of the synthesised compounds. Many four-substituted benzenesulphonamides displayed low nanomolar inhibition against isoform hCA II, unlike the three-substituted analogues. All target compounds exhibited good inhibition profile with KI values ranging from 16.4 to 66.0 nM against tumour-associated isoform hCA IX. Some selective and potent inhibitors of hCA IX were assayed for in vitro apoptotic induction in goat testicular cells. Compounds 10d and 10h showed interesting apoptotic induction potential. The present study may provide insights into a strategy for the design of novel anticancer agents based on hCA inhibitors endowed with apoptotic interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Washingtonia filifera seeds have revealed to possess antioxidant properties, butyrylcholinesterase and xanthine oxidase inhibition activities. The literature has indicated a relationship between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type-2 diabetes (T2D). Keeping this in mind, we have now evaluated the inhibitory properties of W. filifera seed extracts on α-amylase, α-glucosidase enzyme activity and the Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (IAPP) fibrils formation. Three extracts from seeds of W. filifera were evaluated for their enzyme inhibitory effect and IC50 values were calculated for all the extracts. The inhibition mode was investigated by Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis and the inhibition of IAPP aggregate formation was monitored. W. filifera methanol seed extract appears as the most potent inhibitor of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and for the IAPP fibril formation. Current findings indicate new potential of this extract that could be used for the identification or development of novel potential agents for T2D and AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]