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Medicinal plants (MPs) generate cash income and save millions of people in Bangladesh. The aim of this study is to identify farmers' motivational factors to cultivate MPs. This study is based on primary data collected from 196 sample households from two MP-growing districts of Bangladesh. Three MPs, namely, Aloe vera, Bombax ceiba, and Withania somnifera, were considered for this study. Principal component analysis (PCA), the z test, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and factor analysis (FA) were used in this study. The results showed that household size and male-headed household status are driving socioeconomic factors. Ownership of water pumps, number of rooms in the house, access to contract marketing, and off-farm income are significant economic factors encouraging households to cultivate MPs. Farming experience, scientific knowledge, access to high land and access to loamy land are significant biophysical factors motivating farmers to cultivate MPs. More technical support and institutionalized contract marketing systems should be continued and established for the sustainability of MP cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes self-management education and support can be effectively and efficiently delivered in primary care in the form of shared medical appointments (SMAs). Comparative effectiveness of SMA delivery features such as topic choice, multi-disciplinary care teams, and peer mentor involvement is not known. Objective: To compare effects of standardized and patient-driven models of diabetes SMAs on patient-level diabetes outcomes. Design: Pragmatic cluster randomized trial. Participants: A total of 1060 adults with type 2 diabetes in 22 primary care practices. Interventions: Practice personnel delivered the 6-session Targeted Training in Illness Management (TTIM) curriculum using either standardized (set content delivered by a health educator) or patient-driven SMAs (patient-selected topic order delivered by health educators, behavioral health providers [BHPs], and peer mentors). Main measures: Outcomes included self-reported diabetes distress and diabetes self-care behaviors from baseline and follow-up surveys (assessed at 1st and final SMA session), and HbA1c, BMI, and blood pressure from electronic health records. Analyses used descriptive statistics, linear regression, and linear mixed models. Key Results: Both standardized and patient-driven SMAs effectively improved diabetes distress, self-care behaviors, BMI (− 0.29 on average), and HbA1c (− 0.45% (mmol/mol) on average, 8.3 to 7.8%). Controlling for covariates, there was a small, significant effect of condition on overall diabetes distress in favor of standardized SMAs (F(1,841) = 4.3, p =.04), attributable to significant effects of condition on emotion and regimen distress subscales. There was a small, significant effect of condition on diastolic blood pressure in favor of standardized SMAs (F(1,5199) = 4.50, p =.03). There were no other differences between conditions. Conclusions: Both SMA models using the TTIM curriculum yielded significant improvement in diabetes distress, self-care, and HbA1c. Patient-driven diabetes SMAs involving BHPs and peer mentors and topic selection did not lead to better clinical or patient-reported outcomes than standardized diabetes SMAs facilitated by a health educator following a set topic order. NIH trial registry number: NCT03590041. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The very large-scale integration implementation of a unique hardware-oriented image compression technique for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is presented in this work. Networks of individually owned sensors spread out throughout an area that can detect, measure, and report changes in environmental variables are known as wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Color sampling, block truncation coding (BTC), threshold optimization, sub-sampling, estimation, quantization, and enhanced Golomb-rice coding (EGRC) are all included in the proposed design. A unique improved BTC with an enhanced Golomb-rice coding (IBTC-EGRC) framework has been proposed in this paper. IBTC training framework has been developed using the fuzzy decision-based approach to achieve representative levels and satisfy WSN requirements to accomplish the cost-effective and power-efficient features. Two ideal reconstruction values and bitmap files have been obtained for every block. IBTC divides images into variable block sizes for mathematical translation and inter-pixel redundancy removal. The subsampling, estimation, and quantization stages have minimized redundant data. Finally, EGRC has been used to code the value with the highest likelihood. An EGRC module decreases memory use and computation complexity. The EGRC technique reduces hardware resource utilization by removing the need for the context module, a crucial part of lossless image compressor designs and its memory. Proposed method, Golomb-rice parameter forecasting and managment module is used to preserve pixel connection and improved compression ratio. A UMC 180 nm CMOS technology has been used to implement the suggested framework. This design has 5.8k synthesized gate counts and a core area of 56,000 µm2. 100 MHz and 3.01 mW were the operational frequency and energy consumption, respectively. The proposed method has a 9.37% reduction in gate count compared to the previous fuzzy BTC-based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prevent the worldwide diseases caused by the micro-organisms, the great effort has been performed to synthesize unique CuO nanoflakes (NF) and walnut shape (W-S) CuO/CeO2 heterostructures with O vacancies by a simple precipitation technique without using any template. The morphology, structure, valance states, chemical composition and surface charge of the synthesized samples were inspected by i.e. scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX), resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and zeta potential (ζ). The expected crystallite's size was studied by XRD data i.e. for CuO NF ~5.9 nm with 0.1–0.2% error and SD is ±0.2–0.5, while for the W-S CuO/CeO2 heterostructures it is about ~6.4 nm with 0.05–0.1% error and SD is ±0.1–0.2 respectively. Both samples were tested as an antiseptic agent against E. coli and S. aureus, and it was confirmed that they had greater antibacterial effects as compared to the control group (water) which showed no response (0%). It was predicted that the CuO/CeO2 heterostructure showed excellent antibacterial activity (100%) verses pure CuO NF (80–90%) at the same 0.2 mg/L concentration for E. coli with SD (±0–1). While against S. Aureus strain the CuO/CeO2 heterostructure showed (80–90%) antibacterial action at the lowest concentration (0.2 mg/L) but 100% as the concentration increases i.e. 0.5 mg/L due to difference in bacterial strain with the SD (±0–2). After remarkable antibacterial activity, the biofilm inhibition of CuO/CeO2 heterostructure against S. aureus was also studied by crystal violet staining, and examined that the inhibition effect of the biofilm increases with the increase concentration of heterostructures. At 0.31 mg/mL, the biofilm reduced visibly and the whole structure has destroyed, indicating that it is a remarkable biofilm inhibitor. Highlights: CeO2 and CuO nanoparticles were prepared without use of any surfactant or additives at low processing temperature and less reaction time. Addition of CeO2 in CuO nanoflakes, assembled in a new shape of heterostructure i.e. walnut morphology with enhanced O vacancies. These innovative and surfactant free heterostructures are enriched with Ce3+ ions and vacancies which played an important role in their biological application. All samples showed remarkable antibacterial properties as compared to the control group and also study the mechanism of biofilm inhibition of the novel heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystems are impacted both directly and indirectly by the tanning industry's higher-than-average emission of harmful effluent. Plants, animals, and humans all suffer greatly from the contaminants in tannery wastewater. Therefore, the study focuses on separating novel organisms from chromium-containing wastewater by examining the screening results, which show that the novel organisms have degraded 96% of the synthetic azo-yellow dye. Novel bacterium that degrades and removes toxic organic and inorganic compounds, and synthetic azo yellow color. Several factors influencing the high percentage of degradation including temperature (36 °C), pH (7), inoculum concentration (10%), and duration (60th hours), are optimized for the breakdown of synthetic azo yellow dye. The degradation profile where C-N stretching nitrile and C = O stretching anhydride were absent, confirmed by instrumental analysis. Novel organisms can remove, synthetic azo-yellow dye, and toxic organic and inorganic substances. Consequently, process characterization, optimization, and modelling are done using advanced statistical design. Briefly covered were the foundations of RSM and how it is used in the biological treatment of wastewater. The different RSM-based prediction and optimization works are listed. The goal of the research is to completely degrade tannery effluent and zero sludge disposable, and this is oriented on practical applications at larger scale technologies and for irrigation purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)-based atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) technology is an emerging non-thermal approach for fruit juice processing. Therefore, the present investigation involved the application of DBD-ACP to orange juice (cv. Malta), with a range of parameters being examined, including sample depth (2–4 mm), voltage (16–20 kV), and treatment time (2–10 min). The effects of process parameters on the responses of ascorbic acid (AA), residual activity (RA) of pectin methylesterase (PME), and bioaccessibility index (BI) were assessed and optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The physicochemical properties of ACP-treated juice under optimized conditions were compared with untreated juice. The kinetic study of PME inactivation and AA degradation was also investigated. The optimum conditions achieved by RSM were: voltage of 20 kV, sample depth of 3.29 mm, and treatment time of 2 min. The AA, RA of PME, and BI were obtained under optimum conditions as 31.54 mg/100 mL, 61.33%, and 79.10%, respectively. The principal component analysis demonstrated a better correlation among process and response variables. The results of titratable acidity, pH, and total soluble solids showed an insignificant (p > 0.05) effect. The total phenolic content and total flavonoid content increased by 8.88% and 16.50%, respectively. The AA content and DPPH radical scavenging activity decreased during treatment. A slight change in the total color difference (ΔE) of 0.27 was observed. The Weibull model was found to be the best fit for describing the kinetics of PME inactivation and AA degradation during DBD-ACP treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore preschool educators' attitudes towards to information and communication technology (ICT), its factors and implementation of ICT tools in preschool education by the educators. To this end, a mixed-method research approach was applied, comprising qualitative and quantitative data, collected using survey and field observation. The data, gathered from 58 preschool educators from the north of Portugal, were analysed by SPSS and the qualitative data gathered by five classroom observations analysed by thematic analysis method. Findings indicated that preschool educators have positive attitudes towards ICT integration in education regardless of age, years of teaching experience and attending professional course predictors. Additionally, educators use ICT tools as materials to enhance classroom activities, engage children, and conduct research with them. The results of this study reveal that preschool educators hold positive attitudes toward ICT and actively implement activities using ICT. However, educators are still the main users of ICT in the classroom. It was also observed that as these five classrooms lack the technological infrastructure, the educators usually rely on their personal resources. The lack of ICT resources could affect the independent use of ICT by the children. According to the findings, the study recommends that there are some schools in Portugal that lack ICT infrastructure. In order to overcome this situation, school leaders and policymakers should invest in ICT infrastructure in preschool institutions in Portugal that face a lack of ICT tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylene is a toxic, volatile organic compound that harms human health and needs an accurate sensing mechanism. Developing metal oxide semiconductor-based gas sensors for xylene detection is a crucial area of research to improve the quality of human life. In the present work, we report the synthesis of pure ZnO and ZnO–CuO composite thin films using a chemical spray pyrolysis approach with optimized deposition conditions. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy studies were carried out to determine the micro-structural characteristics of the films. The XRD studies have displayed that the sprayed films were polycrystalline in nature with the Wurtzite phase. The crystallite size was determined with the Scherrer formula, showing an increase from 24 to 40 nm as the concentration of CuO was enhanced. Morphological studies were interpreted using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The results demonstrate that the deposited thin films are composed of aggregated spherical particles with uniform distribution. Chemical oxidization states in the sprayed films were examined with XPS. Nano structural properties have been investigated using transmission electron microscopy. ZnO composite-based thin films offer great potential for gas-sensing applications due to their enhanced sensing performance, sensitivity, and cost-effectiveness. Gas-sensing properties of pristine ZnO and CuO-added ZnO thin films were investigated under ambient conditions in a static liquid distribution technique toward 5 ppm of xylene gas. The results show that the ZnO–CuO composite film with 15 wt% CuO responded well to xylene vapors with a good selective nature. Transient recovery and response times were also determined as 80 s and 42 s, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type-H capillary endothelial cells control bone formation during embryogenesis and postnatal growth but few signalling mechanisms underpinning this influence have been characterised. Here, we identify a highly expressed type-H endothelial cell protein, Clec14a, and explore its role in coordinating osteoblast activity. Expression of Clec14a and its ligand, Mmrn2 are high in murine type-H endothelial cells but absent from osteoblasts. Clec14a−/− mice have premature condensation of the type-H vasculature and expanded distribution of osteoblasts and bone matrix, increased long-bone length and bone density indicative of accelerated skeletal development, and enhanced osteoblast maturation. Antibody-mediated blockade of the Clec14a-Mmrn2 interaction recapitulates the Clec14a−/− phenotype. Endothelial cell expression of Clec14a regulates osteoblast maturation and mineralisation activity during postnatal bone development in mice. This finding underscores the importance of type-H capillary control of osteoblast activity in bone formation and identifies a novel mechanism that mediates this vital cellular crosstalk. The receptor Clec14a and its ligand Mmrn2, which are highly expressed in Type-H capillary endothelial cells, regulate osteoblast maturation and mineralisation activity during postnatal bone development in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Our study aimed to provide consensus and expert clinical practice statements related to airway management in critically ill adults with a physiologically difficult airway (PDA). Methods: An international Steering Committee involving seven intensivists and one Delphi methodology expert was convened by the Society of Critical Care Anaesthesiologists (SOCCA) Physiologically Difficult Airway Task Force. The committee selected an international panel of 35 expert clinician–researchers with expertise in airway management in critically ill adults. A Delphi process based on an iterative approach was used to obtain the final consensus statements. Results: The Delphi process included seven survey rounds. A stable consensus was achieved for 53 (87%) out of 61 statements. The experts agreed that in addition to pathophysiological conditions, physiological alterations associated with pregnancy and obesity also constitute a physiologically difficult airway. They suggested having an intubation team consisting of at least three healthcare providers including two airway operators, implementing an appropriately designed checklist, and optimizing hemodynamics prior to tracheal intubation. Similarly, the experts agreed on the head elevated laryngoscopic position, routine use of videolaryngoscopy during the first attempt, preoxygenation with non-invasive ventilation, careful mask ventilation during the apneic phase, and attention to cardiorespiratory status for post-intubation care. Conclusion: Using a Delphi method, agreement among a panel of international experts was reached for 53 statements providing guidance to clinicians worldwide on safe tracheal intubation practices in patients with a physiologically difficult airway to help improve patient outcomes. Well-designed studies are needed to assess the effects of these practice statements and address the remaining uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the repair bond strength of composite resin following three different surface treatments (bur-grinding, silanization, and Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation) using various universal adhesives. A total of 160 resin composite specimens, produced in cylindrical form (6 × 2 mm) with a nanohybrid composite resin within metal molds, were subjected to 5000 cycles of aging in a thermocycler. The aged samples were categorized into four groups based on surface treatments: control, bur, silane, and Er,Cr:YSGG laser. Following surface treatments, the specimens underwent repair using the same resin composite and four different adhesive systems: Tokuyama Universal Bond (TUB), Prime Bond Universal (PBU), Gluma Bond Universal (GBU), and Clearfil SE Bond (CSB). Subsequently, the specimens were subjected to shear forces, and statistical analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests (p < 0.05). The failure modes were examined using a stereomicroscope, and the surface topography of the roughened resin composite was assessed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicated that silane + GBU exhibited the highest shear bond strength (SBS) (15.61 MPa) while control + TUB showed the lowest SBS (7.63 MPa). Silane demonstrated significantly higher SBS values (p ≤ 0.05), with no significant difference observed between bur and laser methods (p = 0.998). It is recommended to include an additional silanization step before applying universal adhesive, as it effectively enhances the bond strength of the repaired composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular diagnosis of inborn errors of immunity (IEI) plays a critical role in determining patients’ long-term prognosis, treatment options, and genetic counseling. Over the past decade, the broader utilization of next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques in both research and clinical settings has facilitated the evaluation of a significant proportion of patients for gene variants associated with IEI. In addition to its role in diagnosing known gene defects, the application of high-throughput techniques such as targeted, exome, and genome sequencing has led to the identification of novel disease-causing genes. However, the results obtained from these different methods can vary depending on disease phenotypes or patient characteristics. In this study, we conducted whole-exome sequencing (WES) in a sizable cohort of IEI patients, consisting of 303 individuals from 21 different clinical immunology centers in Türkiye. Our analysis resulted in likely genetic diagnoses for 41.1% of the patients (122 out of 297), revealing 52 novel variants and uncovering potential new IEI genes in six patients. The significance of understanding outcomes across various IEI cohorts cannot be overstated, and we believe that our findings will make a valuable contribution to the existing literature and foster collaborative research between clinicians and basic science researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intracranial hemorrhages is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and there is still no effective biomarker to predict prognosis. Aim: We aimed to determine the effectiveness of high sensitive troponin I (hs-cTn-I) levels to predict the prognosis of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) by comparing Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) and hematoma volume with hs-cTn-I levels. Methods: This study was planned as a retrospective observational study. Patients with available data, over 18 years old and sICH were included in the study. Cerebral computed tomography images were evaluated by a senior radiologist. Hematoma volume was calculated using the ABC/2 formula. Results: The study comprised 206 individuals in total 78 (37.86%) women and 128 (62.13%) men. Forty-four (21.35%) of patients died. The sensitivity of GCS, hs-cTn-I, and hematoma volume values were 86.36%, 66.67%, and 59.46%, respectively, with corresponding specificities of 78.75%, 93.02%, and 87.58%. Patients with hs-cTn-I values over 26, GCS values of ≤ 9, and hematoma volume values above 44.16 were found to have higher risk of mortality (p = 0.011; p < 0.001; p < 0.001, respectively). The mortality rates were found to be increased 2.586 (IQR: 1.224–5.463) times in patients with hs-cTn-I values above 26, 0.045 times (IQR: 0.018–0.115) in patients with GCS values ≤ 9, and 7.526 times (IQR: 3.518–16.100) in patients with hematoma volume values above 44.16. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that hs-cTn-I values exceeding 26 units may serve as effective biochemical markers for predicting the prognosis of patients with sICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Bangladesh, Vibrio cholerae lineages are undergoing genomic evolution, with increased virulence and spreading ability. However, our understanding of the genomic determinants influencing lineage transmission and disease severity remains incomplete. Here, we developed a computational framework using machine-learning, genome scale metabolic modelling (GSSM) and 3D structural analysis, to identify V. cholerae genomic traits linked to lineage transmission and disease severity. We analysed in-patients isolates from six Bangladeshi regions (2015-2021), and uncovered accessory genes and core SNPs unique to the most recent dominant lineage, with virulence, motility and bacteriophage resistance functions. We also found a strong correlation between V. cholerae genomic traits and disease severity, with some traits overlapping those driving lineage transmission. GSMM and 3D structure analysis unveiled a complex interplay between transcription regulation, protein interaction and stability, and metabolic networks, associated to lifestyle adaptation, intestinal colonization, acid tolerance and symptom severity. Our findings support advancing therapeutics and targeted interventions to mitigate cholera spread. Cholera continues to cause significant mortality in endemic regions such as Bangladesh where diverse lineages circulate. Here, the authors investigate genomic features that are associated with linage transmission dynamics and disease severity using machine learning, genome-scale metabolic modelling, and 3D structural analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, IDS (Intrusion Detection System) has become a significant tool for improvising network security through the detection of abnormal and normal data. It is vital as it permits one to identify and respond to incoming malicious traffic. The intruders have also enhanced the inclusion of attacks in systems with a recent increase in data. Concurrently, ML (Machine Learning) algorithms can learn from corresponding data that has been afforded. With the provision of new data, the accuracy and efficacy of the ML model to take decisions to enhance with training. However, with the evolution of big data, ML has turned incapable of handling huge data interpretation issues which made most of the conventional systems explore high FP (False Positive) rates and low accuracy rates. This gave rise to pyspark which serves as a platform for addressing these issues that the ML method fails to solve. ML in pyspark is a scale and easy to use. Considering this, the present research intends to propose ML-based algorithms for classifying intrusion detection in a pyspark environment. This study proposes a security framework named Fuzzy K-Means with M-KMP (Modified-Knuth Morris Pratt) wherein the clustering is accomplished by Fuzzy K-means which is capable of exploring data points that potentially relate to multiple clusters. Whereas, M-KMP achieves information matching on the clustered data for assessment of the information occurrence on the allocated threat data that will serve as an assistance for security developers in attack prevention. The efficiency of this proposed work is confirmed through the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Insomnia is a common psychiatric disorder that has oxidative and degenerative effects on the brain. It is thought that the brain's processes affect the retina through their synaptic connections. However, the effects of sleep disorders on the retina and choroid are not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the impact of insomnia on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), central foveal thickness, retinal layers, and choroidal thickness. Methods: The right eye of 16 healthy controls and 15 patients with insomnia complaints for 3 months, no history of psychiatric drug use, and an Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score of 15 or higher were included in the study. The retinal layers and RNFL analyses were performed using optical coherence tomography (OCT), and choroidal layers were analyzed using enhanced depth imaging OCT. Results: Nasal and temporal ganglion cell complex thicknesses were significantly lower in patients with insomnia compared to the controls (97 μm vs. 111 μm P = 0.004; 94 μm vs. 105 μm P = 0.012, respectively). A significant negative correlation was detected between the ISI score and global RNFL thickness (rho, P = 0.03) Additionally, pachychoroid-like vascular structures were observed in choroidal images. Conclusion: These changes in the retina and the choroid layers due to insomnia may be precursors to retinal degenerative conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration that may occur in the future. Multicenter studies including more patients are needed to demonstrate the importance of quality sleep for eye health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study we explore how social factors (group contact, individuating experience, implicit racial bias) influence the eye movements made during the visual exploration when judging their aesthetic merit of figurative paintings depicting White and Black sitters. An opportunity sample of participants visiting a gallery in Liverpool viewed ten artworks while their eye movements were recorded and completed a set of individual difference measures. The individual difference measures indicated self-report of art interest, social contact and individuating experience with both Black and White communities, and implicitly held racial bias. The results showed that, despite viewing the paintings for less time, the majority of participants reported paintings showing Black sitters as more interesting, emotionally moving, and pleasurable then those depicting White sitters. However, if a participant reported limited social contact with Black community, and a negative implicit racial bias against them, their rating of aesthetic merit of paintings showing Black sitters was reduced, viewing time increased, and fixations became more focused on faces. The influence of social factors on the viewing of paintings showing White sitters was limited to aesthetic rating. The results are discussed in terms of how social factors influence eye movements when viewing paintings in a real-world setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sebum is a biofluid excreted by sebaceous glands in the skin. In recent years sebum has been shown to contain endogenous metabolites diagnostic of disease, with remarkable results for Parkinson’s Disease. Given that sebum sampling is facile and non-invasive, its potential for use in clinical biochemistry diagnostic assays should be explored including the parameters for standard operating procedures around collection, transport, and storage. To this aim we have here investigated the reproducibility of mass spectrometry data from sebum in relation to both storage temperature and length of storage. Sebum samples were collected from volunteers and stored for up to four weeks at a range of temperatures: ambient (circa 17 °C), −20 °C and −80 °C. Established extraction protocols were employed and samples were analysed by two chromatographic mass spectrometry techniques and data investigated using PCA, PLS-DA and ANOVA. We cannot discriminate samples as a function of storage temperature or time stored in unsupervised analysis using data acquired via TD–GC–MS and LC–IM–MS, although the sampling of volatiles was susceptible to batch effects. This study indicates that the requirements for storage and transport of sebum samples that may be used in clinical assays are less stringent than for liquid samples and indicate that sebum is suitable for remote and at home sampling prior to analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the energy systems functioning across the developing world are poorly designed and largely inadequate to meet a country's commercial and domestic energy needs. This is especially so in Latin America, where poverty trends have been exacerbated by limited access to energy, which could be used towards supporting industrial and small-scale commercial activities. This has characterised the widespread trend of energy poverty. This phenomenon poses a major barrier towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addressing climate change, since lack of access to reliable energy generation systems hinders the development of economic activities and limits the comfort of living conditions. This paper reports on a study aimed at catering to a better understanding of the challenges related to energy poverty in Latin America and identifying some of the tools that may be deployed to address them. The methodological procedures used were bibliometric analysis and survey. The main findings of this research evidence that reducing energy poverty in Latin American countries is crucial to alleviating household costs since a considerable part of family income is used to pay the energy needs. Less use of coal, greater access to electricity—including those from renewable generation—as well as the use of technologies and programs subsidized by governments would significantly contribute to increasing the Latin American citizens' quality of life and achieving the SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a severe and life-threatening disease. In the United States (US), vaccine coverage with MenACWY and MenB meningococcal vaccines is suboptimal among adolescents/young adults aged 16–23 years. A combined meningococcal vaccine (MenABCWY) could increase convenience (e.g., fewer injections) and improve coverage. The objective was to quantify preferences for hypothetical meningococcal vaccine profiles among adolescents/young adults and parents. Methods: An online discrete choice experiment was conducted among 16- to 23-year-olds, and parents of 16- to 18-year-olds. Attributes (3 × 4) and levels (1 × 2) were based on the literature and focus groups. Participants made ten pair-wise forced trade-off choices, systematically varied using a D-optimal design. Random parameter logit quantified the relative importance of vaccination attributes and estimated the trade-offs. Differences in preferences by subgroups were assessed. Results: Totals of 300 adolescents and young adults (median age 20 years) and 300 parents (median age 46 years) completed the survey. Overall, 89.6% of 16- to 23-year-olds and 69.1% of parents preferred a simplified hypothetical meningococcal vaccination profile, e.g., with fewer injections (3 vs. 4) and fewer healthcare provider (HCP) visits (2–3 vs. 4). Having HCP advice and clear Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations impacted vaccination choice, with both groups reporting high trust in HCP information (83.3% among 16- to 23-year-olds; 98.7% among parents). Barriers to vaccination included lack of HCP advice or awareness of meningococcal vaccines, and income level and out-of-pocket costs for parents. Conclusions: Adolescents/young adults and parents demonstrated a significant preference for a meningococcal vaccine that is more convenient (such as combined MenABCWY). Parents' vaccination preferences differed by income level and out-of-pocket costs, suggesting financial barriers to vaccination may exist which could result in IMD prevention inequalities. Findings from this study provide important information to support patient-facing informed policy discussions. A simplified vaccination schedule and strong recommendation could help improve vaccine uptake, schedule compliance, disease prevention, and reduce inequalities in IMD risk and prevention. A graphical abstract is available with this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The primary objective was to detect the number of women developing isthmocele following lower segment caesarean section. The secondary objectives included analysing the risk factors associated with developing isthmocele and measuring the agreement between Transvaginal Ultrasonography (TVS) and Saline infusion Sonohysterography (SIS) in diagnosing Isthmocele. Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and focused on women who had undergone Lower Segment cesarean Section (LSCS). The study aimed to detect any indentation of at least 2 mm in the scar site, known as isthmocele, using Transvaginal Ultrasound (TVS) and Saline Infusion Sonography (SIS) between 6 weeks and 6 months after delivery. Along with the primary objective, the study also evaluated several secondary outcomes such as maternal comorbidities, closure techniques, and labor details. The evaluation of isthmocele followed the 2019 modified Delphi consensus approach. Results: In our study, we found that 30% of our study population had isthmocele. We also observed that the number of previous caesarean deliveries, maternal BMI, duration of surgery, and characteristics of the previous CD scar were significantly associated with the development of isthmocele. When we compared the diagnostic methods, we found that TVS and SIS had similar limits of agreement for clinically important isthmocele parameters. However, we noticed a difference in the length and distance of isthmocele from the internal os, which we observed through Bland Altman plots. Conclusion: Our research has shown that women who have undergone multiple caesarean deliveries, have a higher maternal body mass index (BMI), and experienced longer surgery duration are at a significantly higher risk of developing isthmocele. To prevent its development, it is recommended to promote vaginal birth after caesarean delivery whenever feasible, manage maternal obesity early on, and provide adequate surgical training to medical professionals. Additionally, transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) is an effective method for detecting isthmocele and can be used interchangeably with saline-infused sonography (SIS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the fire ants alien Solenopsis species, major pests of various horticulture crops. We have reported Solenopsis from crop fields and, through traditional taxonomy, these have been identified as Solenopsis geminata. The present investigation was performed to generate the DNA barcode of this species, for the elucidation of genetic structure collected from the Kalaburagi region. The generated DNA barcode of mitochondrial COI was deposited to the International Barcode of Life Database (BOLD: http://www.boldsystems.org). The barcode, along with its related information, are publicly available on the BOLD website with code MZ669889. It is the first such study from Kalaburagi region. Furthermore, DNA barcoding of fire ant's species accomplished from Maharashtra, Aurangabad (KC685060 & KC685063), Kerala, Malappuram (KP994543), Karnataka, Bangalore (KJ486555, KY000665 & JN886028) is in line with our findings. This study provides a detailed support for further wet lab study in support of traditional taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potent antioxidants, like 3-hydroxy flavones, attracted considerable attention due to their excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)-based fluorescence behaviour. This article is an interesting demonstration of a series of synthetic 3-hydroxy flavone analogues having high antioxidant activity as molecular rotor-like viscosity probes. Among these flavone analogues, 4′-N,N-dimethylamino-3-hydroxy flavone (3) is the most potent one, showing the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT)-dependent fluoroprobing activity toward the blood viscosity changes associated with diabetes and free fatty acids (FFA)-induced nuclear viscosity changes of MIN6 cells. The TICT dynamics of (3), which instigates its viscosity probing activity, was comprehended with the help of DFT-based computational studies. Abnormal cellular viscosity changes are the pathological traits for various diseases, and non-toxic flavone-based viscosity probes can be useful for diagnosing such pathological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO-based photodetectors (PDs) compose a remarkable optoelectronic device field due to their high optical transmittance, electrical conductivity, wide band gap, and high binding energy. This study examined the visible light photodetector performance of the pristine and Rubidium (Rb)-doped ZnO thin films. The influence of Rb doping amount (2, 4, and 6 wt% in solution) on the electrical, optical, and structural properties of the ZnO-based thin films produced by the Successive Ion Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) technique was analyzed. Structural analyses showed that all peaks correspond to hexagonal wurtzite structure with no other peak from Rb-based phases, suggesting the high quality of the crystalline pristine and Rb-doped ZnO thin films. The morphology of the thin films shows homogenous layers formed of nanoparticles where particle size was first decreased and then increased with the increasing Rb doping according to Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) morphology analysis. Besides that, Raman spectroscopy analyses indicate that the phonon lifetimes of the ZnO-based thin films slightly increased due to the improvement of the crystal quality with the increasing amount of Rb in the SILAR solution. Photosensor measurements of the nanostructured pristine and Rb-doped ZnO thin films were measured at different light power intensities under the visible light environment. Photosensor properties were examined depending on the doping amount and light power density. In light of the literature review, our study is the first to produce Rb-doped ZnO thin films via the SILAR method, which has a promising potential for photosensor applications. Highlights: The effect of Rb doping (2, 4, and 6 wt%) on the structural, optical, and photocurrent properties of the ZnO-based thin films. The Rb-doped ZnO thin films produced via the SILAR method consist of hexagonal wurtzite structures without any secondary phase and with nanoscale grain formations for different amounts of Rb doping. The responsitivity of Rb2:ZnO, Rb4:ZnO, and Rb6:ZnO were calculated 0.1532, 0.344, and 5.56, respectively. The EQE values were calculated 0.05%, 0.20%, 0.47%, and 7.61% for ZnO, Rb2:ZnO, Rb4:ZnO, and Rb6:ZnO, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Invasive meningococcal disease, an uncommon but severe disease, imposes catastrophic health and economic burdens. Cost–utility analysis (CUA) assumes separability in lifetime health and economic variables and cannot capture the full value of preventing such burdens. We overcome these limitations with a retrospective societal perspective cost–benefit analysis (CBA) of meningococcal serogroup B vaccination (4CMenB) of one infant cohort in the United Kingdom using a health-augmented lifecycle model (HALM) incorporating health's interactions with consumption, earnings, non-market time and financial risk. Methods: We used a static Markov model of vaccination's health impact and an HALM to estimate the private willingness to pay (PWTP) for the intrinsic and instrumental value of health under perfect capital markets, financial risk protection in the absence of insurance against permanent disability, parental spillovers, and acute phase disability. We estimated social WTP (SWTP) incorporating social severity preferences. We estimated rates of return that inform health payer reimbursement decisions, finance ministry budgeting decisions, and legislature taxation decisions. An expert Advisory Board investigated the validity of applying the HALM to infant 4CMenB. Results: The PWTP for a 2 + 1 vaccination schedule is £395, comprising £166 of disability insurance value, £79 of positive parental spillover value, £28 in the value of averting acute phase disability, and £122 in residual intrinsic and instrumental value of health. SWTP is £969. Conclusions: HALM-based CBA provides an empirically richer, more utility–theoretically grounded approach to vaccine evaluation than CUA, demonstrating good value for money for legislatures (based on private values) and for all decision-makers (based on social values). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pistacia integerrima, a deciduous tree from the Anacardiaceae family, is well known for the formation of galls. These galls are rich in bioactive compounds and are commonly used in Ayurveda and traditional Indian medicine. However, the underlying mechanism of Pistacia integerrima gall formation remains unexplored. In this study, we identified the microbial communities associated with the galls and leaves of Pistacia integerrima using 16S rRNA and ITS gene sequencing. Our findings revealed the presence of bacterial genera such as Aeromonas, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas in both galls and leaves. Notably, both bacterial and fungal diversity was higher in leaves than in galls. Additionally, we identified that the fungal family Glomerellaceae is highly prevalent in galls, constituting a significant proportion of the fungal community, whereas its abundance in leaf samples is comparatively low. Further analysis using PICRUSt demonstrated that gall samples exhibited a greater number of highly abundant genes in the "microbial metabolism in diverse environments" pathway. This study provides valuable insights into the interactions between plants and microbes, enhancing our understanding of plant galls and informing future research efforts. It serves as a crucial resource for guiding further investigations into the intricate dynamics and mechanisms involved in the formation and development of plant galls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite higher income and education, there are profound health disparities among Asian Americans. These disparities are highlighted in particular by screening behaviors for cancer. Between 1998 and 2008, cancer rates increased threefold among Indian Americans, raising concern that cancer screening in this group may be especially low. To better understand cancer screening behavior, we collected data from a total of 157 self-identifying Indian Americans residing in the greater Philadelphia area. Nearly all participants reported having health insurance (98.7%), and most had received a physical exam within a year (87.3%). Only17.4% of the participants were referred for mammography, while 30% of participants over age 30 were referred for ovarian cancer screening. Just 4 participants were recommended for pancreatic cancer screening. The findings contribute new information to the understanding of health needs of Indian Americans residing in the greater Philadelphia region and reveal a need for greater focus on preventive care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we have conducted a comprehensive study on the structural, mechanical, electronic, magnetic and thermodynamic properties of the Heusler alloys FeZrTiZ ( Z = A l , G a , G e ). Our investigation utilize the GGA exchange correlational approximation functional. The results of our analysis indicate that among the Y1-, Y2- and Y3-type structures, the Y1-type structure exhibits stability and demonstrates ferromagnetic behavior. Furthermore, mechanical property analysis reveals that all alloys possess ductile characteristics. The analysis of the density of states of the Heusler alloys FeZrTiZ ( Z = A l , G a , G e ) demonstrates the presence of half-metallic nature in all of the alloys. Additionally, the investigated Heusler alloys exhibit integer spin magnetic moments. To study thermodynamic properties, we use quasi-harmonic approximation, which allows to analyze specific heat capacity, thermal expansion, Debye temperature, vibrational free energy, internal energy and entropy of the Heusler alloys FeZrTiZ ( Z = A l , G a , G e ). Overall, our findings provide a clear understanding of the structural, mechanical, electronic, magnetic and thermodynamic characteristics of Heusler alloys FeZrTiZ ( Z = A l , G a , G e ), shedding light on their potential applications in spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preliminary lithospheric magnetic anomaly map of the Indian subcontinent (LAMI-1) was generated utilising seven years (April 2014–December 2020) of data recorded by the Swarm satellite constellation. To obtain a high-resolution lithospheric anomaly map, the fields originating from sources other than lithospheric sources are eliminated sequentially. The external field component is minimised by selecting the days of low geomagnetic activity (Kp < 2 and –20 < Dst < 20) within night-time hours. The main and the remaining external field sources are removed using data from CHAOS model. The model of residual data is achieved directly through the damped least square inversion technique by expanding the Legendre polynomial of order n = 6–50. The resulting satellite-derived lithospheric magnetic anomaly mostly reflects intermediate to long wavelength deep geological phenomena, with diverse tectonic provinces exhibiting discrete magnetic fingerprints/impressions with amplitudes ranging from high to low. Various tectonic blocks of the Indian subcontinent show distinct signature in the derived lithospheric anomaly map. The Himalayas and the Deccan Volcanic Province are associated with low magnetic signatures. The Central Indian Tectonic Zone and the Arakan Yoma Fold belt appear to have positive magnetisation. The division of Dhawar Craton into Western and Eastern Dharwar by Chitradurga Boundary shear is clearly evident in the anomaly map. A possible track of the Reunion hotspot is depicted as a north–south oriented high within the Marwar block. The comparison between the vertical (Z) component of LAMI-1 with the vertical component of MAGSAT data and MF7 lithospheric model from Champ satellite data indicates the LAMI-1 model shows far less noise and sharper anomalies with tectonic blocks better resolved compared to the other models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applications of macrocyclic compounds and their various metal complexes in biological fields have notably increased. Therefore, it is reasonable to synthesize novel macrocyclic compounds and assess their biological properties. In this research, several new Ni(II) complexes were prepared using hexamethyltetraaza macrocycles, and their biological activity was studied. Specifically, a fourteen-membered tetraaza macrocyclic diene ligand in its dihydroperchlorate form, Me6[14]diene⋅2HClO4 (L⋅2HClO4), along with its isomers tet-a and tet-b in their saturated 'ane' forms, were employed for complexation with Ni(II) acetate, followed by the addition of NaClO4. The process resulted in the formation of square planar [Ni[(L´)](ClO4)2 (L´ = L, tet-a, or tet-b) and octahedral [Ni(tet-b)(ClO4)2] complexes. Furthermore, axial addition reactions involving SCN–, Cl–, Br–, and I– with [Ni[(L´)](ClO4)2 led to the formation of six-coordinated octahedral complexes, including [Ni(L)(NCS)2], [Ni(tet-a)(NCS)2], [Ni(tet-b)(NCS)2] [Ni(tet-b)Cl2], [Ni(L)Br2], [Ni(tet-b)Br2] and [Ni(tet-b)I2]. Additionally, axial substitution reaction on the complex [Ni(tet-b)(ClO4)2] with SCN– produced a five-coordinated square pyramidal complex, [Ni(tet-b)(NCS)](ClO4). Modern analytical and spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize these complexes. It was observed that these complexes exhibited different geometries and electrolytic properties in different organic solvents where the Ni(II) showed different coordination modes. These complexes also displayed moderate antimicrobial activity against various bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the detection and classification of floating marine debris in the Nagapattinam area using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. Data were enhanced through histogram stretching, facilitating the identification of marine plastic debris. Various indices were derived to facilitate the creation of training sets for six models. Each model underwent five tests using a support vector machine and random forest classifiers. Key spectral bands such as B6 (red-edge 2), B8 (near infrared), and B11 (SWIR 1) were pivotal in the classification process. This study illustrates the effectiveness of SVM and RF algorithms in detecting plastic debris, showcasing true and false detection rates. Spectral profiles of various plastic items, including bags, fishnets, and bottles, were analyzed, revealing strong near-infrared reflectance and low red-edge reflectance. Plastic pixels were categorized based on the percentage of plastic coverage, influencing reflectance intensity. Accuracy assessments for the six tests in both the models are presented, highlighting three significant plastic debris groupings near the coast and one near Vedaranyam, with the remaining detections not classified as plastic debris. An automatic floating plastic recognition system was developed and tested in the Nagapattinam area using the best-performing model, identifying floating plastic with an 80–95% accuracy. The Floating Debris Index was the most crucial for identifying marine floating plastic. The study concludes that the distinct reflectance characteristics of plastic facilitate its identification among marine debris, with model accuracies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on public health, extending to the food system and people's livelihoods worldwide, including Bangladesh. This study aimed to ascertain the COVID-19 pandemic impacts on livelihood assets in the North-Western areas (Rajshahi and Rangpur) of Bangladesh. Primary data were collected from 320 farmers engaged in high-value agriculture using a multistage sampling method. The data were analysed using first-order structural equation modelling. The findings reveal a significant impact (p < 0.01) of the pandemic on all livelihood assets in Bangladesh. Notably, human assets exhibited the highest impact, with a coefficient of 0.740, followed sequentially by financial (0.709), social (0.684), natural (0.600), physical (0.542), and psychological (0.537) assets. Government-imposed lockdowns and mobility restrictions were identified as the major causes of the pandemic's negative effects on livelihoods, which included lost income, rising food prices, decreased purchasing power, inadequate access to food and medical supplies, increased social insecurity, and a rise in depression, worry, and anxiety among farmers. The effects of COVID-19 and associated policy measures on the livelihoods of high-value crop farmers have reversed substantial economic and nutritional advances gained over the previous decade. This study suggests attention to the sustainable livelihoods of farmers through direct cash transfer and input incentive programs to minimize their vulnerability to a pandemic like COVID-19 or any other crisis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is essential for healthcare organisations worldwide to have an engaged nursing workforce due to the multiple challenges associated with delivering quality care for a wide range of patients. However, this study examined the effect of job demands on work engagement and the impact of job resources on work engagement among nurses in Bangladesh and the moderating impact of person-environment (P-E) fit in these relationships. Cross-sectional research and methods of quantitative analysis were used in this study. Data were gathered using simple random sampling method from 533 registered nurses working in four hospitals of Bangladesh. The data were examined through structural equation modeling using IBM SPSS 25 and SmartPLS4. The results indicated that the relationship between job demands and job resources were significantly related to work engagement which is in accordance with the job demands-resource (JD-R) theory. The results also indicated that the moderating effect of person-environment (P-E) fit on these two relationships didn't support in this study. This study makes several significant theoretical contributions as it investigated factors that influence work engagement of nurses. Practically, it may help healthcare mangers adopt different strategies so that nurses can practise their ability with responsibility to handle certain situations smoothly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new class of metal matrix composites known as aluminum hybrid composites has the potential to meet the demands of modern advanced engineering applications. However, their performance was based on the combination and the nature of the reinforcements. The bio-shell waste of snails left over from restaurants and eateries poses a serious environmental threat with little or no economic value. So in this research, an effective utilization of low-cost materials such as aluminum alloy wheel scrap and silicon carbide (SiC) and snail shell particles (SSP) was used to fabricate a hybrid composites. The aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) are prepared with varying weight proportions of SiC particles for 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, and 12.5% using vortex casting technique to study the vibration characteristics, hardness, and corrosion behavior of the composites. The vibrational behavior of the composite material is examined by fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis using the DEWESoft software to obtain the natural frequency of each sample, to compute the damping ratio for each sample, and to obtain the mode shape of the samples. The one which has highest damping ratio is considered to be more resistant to vibration. Hardness is compared using the Brinell hardness. The corrosion tests are conducted under three different environments, namely, marine (3.5% NaCl), industrial (1.5% NaCl), and atmospheric (0.5% NaCl) environments by potentiodynamic polarization technique using the Tafel extrapolation method. Then, the best combination out of the five is selected and the snail shell particles are incorporated into it as an additional reinforcement with the varying weight proportions of 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%, thereby making it as a hybrid composite. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis is carried out to confirm the existence of particulates in the composite material. These samples are again subjected to vibration, hardness, and corrosion tests. The surface morphology of the samples is studied by recording the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the surfaces before and after corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deaths from liver cancer are on the rise and disproportionately affect minority racial/ethnic groups. In this study, we examined associations between physicians' recommendations for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors among minority populations in the areas of Greater Philadelphia and New York City. Using Poisson regression with robust variance estimation, we evaluated potential associations for 576 Hispanic American (HA), African American (AA), and Asian Pacific American (APA) adults, using blood tests as an outcome measure, with adjustment for sociodemographic factors We found that APAs (34.2%) were most likely to have a physician recommend HBV and HCV screening tests (34.2% and 27.1%, respectively), while HAs were least likely to receive an HBV recommendation (15.0%) and AAs were least likely to receive an HCV recommendation (15.3%). HAs were significantly likely to have never received a blood test for either HBV or HCV (RR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.49). APAs were significantly more likely to receive a screening recommendation for HBV (RR = 1.10, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.20) and to have a blood test (RR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.33). Our findings show that, among HAs, AAs, and APAs, physician recommendations are strongly associated with patients undergoing blood tests for HBV and HCV and that minority populations should increasingly be recommended to screen for HBV and HCV, especially given their elevated risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrapartum care uses electronic fetal heart rate monitoring (EFHRM) for over 50 years to indirectly assess fetal oxygenation. However, this approach has been associated with an increase in cesarean delivery rates and limited improvements in neonatal hypoxic outcome. To address these shortcomings, a novel transabdominal fetal pulse oximeter (TFO) is being developed to provide an objective measurement of fetal oxygenation. Previous studies have evaluated the performance of TFO on pregnant ewe. Building on the animal model, this study aims to determine whether TFO can successfully capture human fetal heart rate (FHR) signals during non-stress testing (NST) as a proof-of-concept. Eight ongoing pregnancies meeting specific inclusion criteria (18–40 years old, singleton, and at least 36 weeks' gestation) were enrolled with consent. Each study session was 15 to 20 min long. Reference maternal heart rate (MHR) and FHR were obtained using finger pulse oximetry and cardiotocography for subsequent comparison. The overall root-mean-square error was 9.7BPM for FHR and 4.4 for MHR, while the overall mean-absolute error was 7.6BPM for FHR and 1.8 for MHR. Bland–Altman analysis displayed a mean bias ± standard deviation between TFO and reference of -3.9 ± 8.9BPM, with limits of agreement ranging from -21.4 to 13.6 BPM. Both maternal and fetal heart rate measurements obtained from TFO exhibited a p-value < 0.001, showing significant correlation with the reference. This proof-of-concept study successfully demonstrates that TFO can accurately differentiate maternal and fetal heart signals in human subjects. This achievement marks the initial step towards enabling fetal oxygen saturation measurement in humans using TFO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater-level and rainfall measurements from 37 borewells in the Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, India, from 2002 to 2021 were analyzed using Bayesian Neural Networks (BNNs) to comprehend the predictability of groundwater levels. We found chaotic dynamics in the groundwater and rainfall data, but a dominant trend component was seen in the groundwater-level data from phase plots. Dynamics suggest the presence of self-organized criticality/chaos in the groundwater dynamics over decadal time scales. We used BNN prediction models, (i) nonlinear autoregressive (NAR), (ii) nonlinear input–output (NIO) and (iii) nonlinear autoregressive exogenic Input (NARX), to predict the groundwater levels with rainfall and temperature as exogenic inputs. We noticed ~ 94 to 95% prediction accuracy with the NAR model with optimal inputs and ~ 1% improvement with added exogenic input. Interestingly, the study indicates that (i) the dynamics of the groundwater differ significantly from rainfall and temperature in the region, (ii) the nonlinear autoregressive model based on the self-organized dynamics of groundwater-level changes is robust in providing prediction accuracy up to ~ 95%, and (iii) the dynamics of remaining ~ 5% groundwater-level changes may be due to the presence of randomly varying extreme weather events and man-made/anthropogenic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface modification of nanocellulose to improve its compatibility with the polymer matrix is gaining considerable attention these days. Herein, nanocellulose whiskers (NCW) extracted from Acacia caesia were modified with resorcinol and hexamethylenetetramine (RH) by the refluxing method. The characteristic properties of RH-modified NCW were studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS). A marginal decrease in crystallinity index was observed by surface modification, whereas the thermal stability (Tmax) of the NCW increases by 32 °C on surface modification. The potential of modified filler in improving the properties of natural rubber latex (NR) was studied by comparing its mechanical, thermal, diffusion, permeability and biodegradability properties with neat NR and NR-NCW composites. Upon 2 phr filler loading, the tensile and tear strengths of modified NCW composites increased by 26 and 38% accordingly compared to the NR-neat. The better filler matrix interaction resulted in the marginal positive shift in the glass transition temperature, transport properties and Tmax of the modified composite. The incorporation of NCW also enhanced biodegradability and reduced the permeability of the prepared composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-image compression technique compresses multiple images of the same or various sizes together to generate a common codebook. In multi-image compression, the size of the common codebook or code vector matrix formed from multiple images is crucial to the algorithm's compression ratio performance. This codebook comprises codewords created by the multi-Image compression technique after various tuning settings have been modified. The compression ratio of the multi-image compression approach can be improved even more by lowering the size of the common code vector matrix. The common codebook or code vector matrix is reduced in size in this study using deep learning based auto-encoder technology. The encoded matrix is substantially smaller than the matrix formed using standard encoding techniques. For decoding purposes, information on the number of neurons and layers employed during encoding is also stored. The suggested approach is tested on a large number of standard photos and images from the UCID version 2 database. The experimental results are examined using compression ratio, PSNR, and SSIM. The results demonstrate that the suggested technique decreases the size of the common code vector matrix or codebook by 20%, improving overall algorithm performance by about 1.5% while maintaining the visual quality of the decompressed images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate the benefits as well as the impacts of essential and toxic metals regarding human health, the six common rice grains (katarivhog, bashful, banglamoti, najirshail, branded miniket and loose miniket) were collected from four wholesale markets in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, and were analyzed with different atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) techniques. The mean concentrations of the toxic metals Pb, Cd, Cr, and As had 0.299 ± 0.017, 0.157 ± 0.012, 1.33 ± 0.084, and 0.120 ± 0.006 mg/kg, respectively, while those of the essential metals Fe, Cu, Zn, Na, Ca, and Mg had 7.90 ± 0.447, 3.11 ± 0.097, 10.6 ± 0.340, 37.4 ± 0.622, 90.1 ± 7.70, and 115.8 ± 1.61 mg/kg, respectively. Among them, the mean concentrations of toxic metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, and As) exceeded the maximum allowable concentration in rice set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). Risk assessment of the heavy metals Pb, Cd, Cr, As, Fe, Cu, and Zn showed that their estimated daily intakes were below the daily reference doses for adults. However, Cd and Cr individually were found to have the target hazard quotient value close to 1 (threshold limit), indicating that they alone are capable of potential health hazards from continuous rice consumption, while the hazard index has surpassed three units signifying greater danger associated with the current trend of consumption. A very high chance of developing cancer in the near future is predicted by incremental lifetime carcinogenic risk (ILCR) analysis for continued intake of Cr (ILCR > 1E-03), and a moderate to high risk is predicted for other carcinogenic substances (Pb, Cd, and As) (ILCR in between 1E-03 and 1E-05) with present rice consumption. The contribution of the essential metals to the RNI revealed that Cu from rice contributes more than 100% in most samples, and the overall contribution is in the following order: Cu > Zn > Fe > Mg > Ca > Na. To ensure the safety of staple foods for human health, it ought to be necessary to design a plan to measure the budget of hazardous metals from all sources with proper surveillance by relevant authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased mismanaged plastic has led to widespread microplastic (MPs) contamination in the marine environment. Our study investigates MPs across the inner, outer, and mangrove regions of the Kollidam River estuary on the east coast of India. Surface water and sediment samples at 18 locations were analysed for size, shape, colour, and polymer type. The average MP abundance in surface water and sediment was 2.42 particles. m−3and 1580 ± 705 particles. kg−1d.w. respectively. The predominant polymer types observed were PP (40%), PE (26%), and PAc (24%). Medium-sized particles (1–2.5 mm) are more in surface water (44%), and small-sized (0.01–1 mm) particles dominate in sediment samples (50%). The most common MP shapes were fibres and fragments, with transparent MPs being the most frequently observed colour. The results highlight that the mangrove region acts as a potential sink for microplastic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers play pivotal role in transporting plastic litter into the ocean. The present study aimed to estimate microplastics (MPs) in Palar River (PR), that receives waste inputs of agricultural, industries, fishing, and domestic origin. Water and sediment samples were collected during low tide, at seven locations from inner check dam to mouth region. Highest concentration of MPs in water are observed at PR-6 (28.01 × 104 particles.km−2) and the lowest was recorded at PR-4 (2.6 × 104 particles.km−2). In sediment, highest count was detected at PR-1 (8.8 × 102 ± 226 particles.kg−1 d.w) and the lowest was recorded in PR-6 (2.5 × 102 ± 14 particles.kg−1d.w). MPs distribution in water is more in the outer mouth (PR-6) in comparison to inner region (PR-4). Fibres were dominating morphotype of MPs, comprised of 79.4% in water and 89.8% in sediment samples. According to size classification, the majority of particles (41.02% in water and 56.1% in sediment) were in the size range of 1 μm to 1000 μm. Characterization of MPs through Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is the dominant polymer indicating the use of plastic fishing nets and ropes along with the outfall from nearby industries may be the main contributor to the microplastic pollution in the river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study emphasized on the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in an environmentally friendly manner from the extract of Catharanthus roseus leaves and its antibacterial assessment against the pneumonia-causing pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae. This simple and convenient phytosynthesis approach is found to be beneficial over conventional methods, wherein plants serve as excellent reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents that enables the formation of ZnO NPs without the use of harmful chemicals. The formation of ZnO NPs was confirmed through several characterization techniques such as UV–visible spectroscopy, XRD, FT-IR, SEM, HR-TEM, and EDX. XRD analysis revealed high polycrystallinity with crystallite size of approximately 13 nm. SEM and HR-TEM revealed the hexagonal structure of ZnO NPs with the particle size range of 20–50 nm. The EDX shows the elemental purity without any impurity. Furthermore, the antibacterial efficacy by the technique of disc diffusion exhibited clear inhibition zones in ZnO NPs-treated discs. In addition, 125 µg/mL of ZnO NP concentration showed minimum inhibition by the microbroth dilution method. The potent inhibitory activity was further validated with trypan blue dye exclusion and fluorescence microscopy. Finally, SEM examination confirmed the efficient antibacterial potential of ZnO NPs through disruption of the intact morphology of Klebsiella pneumoniae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stretch-denim is a unique, trendy, and sturdy fabric produced with coarser cotton yarns requiring high consumption of cotton fiber. With the increasing expenses of cotton and the adverse ecological effects linked to its cultivation, it became necessary to investigate an alternative fiber. In this context, a novel elastic jute yarn was created by incorporating elastane in the core, marking the first instance of such innovation, aimed at producing articles with a pleasant stretch for enhanced comfort. To accurately predict the elastane draw ratio, an I-optimal design, which is a part of the response surface methodology, was employed using design expert software. The study involved nine experimental runs to produce 276 tex elastic jute core-spun yarns at different elastane draw ratios ranging from 1.4 to 4.6. Surface response models were developed and found statistically significant for mass variation, imperfection, hairiness, tenacity, and elongation of yarn, with p-values below 0.05. Using the optimized formulation obtained from the response models, the optimum elastane draw ratio was determined to be 3.42, which was then used to produce optimized core-spun yarn. The quality parameters of produced yarn closely matched the predicted values, suggesting the effectiveness of the response model in navigating and predicting the characteristics of jute core-spun yarn. The newly developed elastic jute yarn is expected to widen the applications of jute yarns where elasticity is necessary, especially in producing stretch denim products by replacing the cotton counterpart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the impact of seawater corrosion on the hardness of Al-Mg-Si alloys, providing insights into the mechanical alterations induced by exposure to corrosive marine environments. Al-Mg-Si alloys are widely used in marine environments because of their high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance. However, exposure to seawater can lead to corrosion, which can alter their mechanical properties, including hardness. In this study, Al6061 alloy specimens were exposed to seawater for different periods (3–30 days), and their hardness was measured using Vickers hardness testing. The corrosion rate was determined by weight loss analysis. The results showed that the corrosion rate of Al6061 alloys increased with increased exposure time in seawater, up to 20%. The hardness versus corrosion rate plot analysis indicates an inverse relationship, with scatter points aligning well with a linear regression model. The Vickers' hardness of the samples decreased as the corrosion rate increased. This hardness decline in Al6061 alloys under escalating corrosion rates is attributed to material loss, heightened porosity, and microstructural transformations arising from corrosion product formation. Comprehensive corrosion micrographs unveiled advanced corrosion stages, marked by dynamic pit and crack expansion, oxide layer degradation, pit coalescence, and emergence of distinct corrosion patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey is abundant in natural mineral water sources, thanks to its location on the Alpine-Himalayan belt. Natural mineral water is drinking water characterized by its natural mineral, trace elements, and carbon dioxide content. Because of quite insufficient data, the boron content in bottled natural mineral waters in Turkey was analyzed by three different methods and compared: inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique, carminic acid, and azomethine-H methods, in this study. The boron levels in mineral waters ranged from a minimum of 0.05 mg/L to a maximum of 8.61 mg/L. It was also safe by the upper limit level estimated by the World Health Organisation. As boron plays a beneficial role in human physiology, consuming natural mineral water may offer a positive contribution to public health by supporting boron intake in our country. The other outcome of our research was that the spectrophotometric carminic acid method can yield results similar to those obtained using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique since the boron level of Turkish mineral water was within the limits level of the carminic acid method. However, the result of the azomethine-H method was found not to be suitable. Cross-sensitivity with other elements in mineral water might have caused this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]