Search

Abstract Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a severe retinal disease in premature infants characterized by pathological neovascularization, obliteration of retinal vessels and increased vessel tortuosity. Currently, there are no completely satisfactory treatments for ROP. Pigment epithelium‐derived factor (PEDF), a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis, appears late in gestation and its deficiency may be linked to development of ROP. This study investigates the preclinical efficacy of PEDF protein alone or in combination with VEGF antagonists for treating ROP. The safety of PEDF protein in the rat eye was assessed using functional in vivo measurements and histology. The efficacy of intravitreal injections (IVI) of various treatments was evaluated in a rat oxygen‐induced retinopathy (OIR) model using in vivo imaging and flatmount analyses. No functional or histological side‐effects were found in rat eyes after intravitreal PEDF protein injection. PEDF protein alone or combined with anti‐VEGF drugs significantly reduced pathological neovascularization and vessel obliteration, comparable to the effects of anti‐VEGF drugs alone. Regarding arterial tortuosity, treatment with a combination of PEDF, and VEGF antagonist was more effective than treatment with anti‐VEGF alone. IVI of PEDF protein is safe. PEDF protein alone or combined with VEGF antagonists shows similar efficacy in reducing pathological neovascularization and vessel obliteration as anti‐VEGF agents. Furthermore, only treatments involving PEDF protein, alone or with VEGF antagonists, significantly improved the quality of retinal vasculature. Thus, PEDF protein alone or combined with anti‐VEGF agents presents a promising alternative to current anti‐VEGF treatments for ROP.

Abstract Cancer poses a significant health threat to the elderly, accounting for a substantial proportion of cancer patients aged 65 and above. As life expectancy continues to rise and the population ages, the incidence of cancer in the elderly is expected to increase further. Age is a major risk factor for the majority of common cancers, with the incidence and prevalence rising as individuals grow older. Factors such as chemoprevention and environmental carcinogen elimination may influence the process of carcinogenesis. Studies reveal that the incidence and mortality rates of various cancers in the elderly and extremely old individuals are on the rise worldwide, with most types peaking around the age of 75 to 90, followed by a sharp decline. Birth cohort and period effects also play a complex role in the connection between aging and cancer risk. Clinical trials often exclude older individuals, limiting our understanding of cancer treatments' effects on this particular age group. More research is needed to focus on the unique requirements of older adults with cancer.

Abstract This study addresses the technological challenge of enhancing the mechanical and tribological properties of Al 6082 alloy by incorporating fly ash (FA) and eggshell (ES) as reinforcing materials. The objective is to fabricate hybrid metal matrix composites using sand casting, with varying weight percentages of eggshell and fly ash: 4 wt% eggshell with 6 wt% fly ash, 5 wt% eggshell with 5 wt% fly ash, and 6 wt% eggshell with 4 wt% fly ash. The experimental methodology involved designing experiments with response surface methodology (RSM), considering applied load, sliding velocity, and sliding distance as variables. The outcomes showed that the composite with 6 wt% eggshell and 4 wt% fly ash exhibited superior hardness, tensile strength, and impact resistance compared to pure Al 6082 and other composite variations. Additionally, this composite reduced the coefficient of friction (COF) from 0.489 for the base Al 6082 to 0.265. ANOVA based on RSM identified sliding distance as the most influential factor affecting COF. Optimal conditions for minimizing COF were determined to be a 40 N load, 0.215 m/s sliding velocity, and 800 m sliding distance through confirmatory trials. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the worn surfaces provided further insights into the wear mechanisms. The research reveals that integrating the addition of eggshell and fly ash significantly enhances the mechanical properties and reduces the friction of Al 6082, with sliding distance being a critical factor in tribological performance. This investigation is distinctive due to its innovative use of dual reinforcement with fly ash and eggshell, which are abundant, cost‐effective, and rarely employed together in this context. The research thoroughly investigates various reinforcement ratios, providing vital insights into how they affect the composite's properties, particularly in terms of improving tribological properties. Using RSM and ANOVA makes the findings more precise and reliable. The investigation highlights sliding distance as the key factor affecting the tribological behavior of the composites.

Abstract Background Targeted next generation sequence analyses in a cohort of 961 previously described patients with clinically suspected Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD) revealed that 145/961 (15%) had variants in genes associated with other muscular dystrophies (OMDs). Methods NGS was carried out in DMD negative patients after deletion/duplication analysis followed by WES for No variant cases. Results The majority of patients with OMDs had autosomal recessive diseases that included Limb‐Girdle Muscular Dystrophies (LGMDs), Bethlem, Ullrich congenital Myopathies and Emery‐Driefuss muscular dystrophy. 3.5% of patients were identified with other disorders like Charcot‐Marie Tooth and Nemaline myopathy. A small percentage of patients, 0.6% remain undiagnosed. Of a total of 78 genetic variants identified, 44 were found to be novel. Interestingly, a third of patients with OMDs were found to have LGMD2E/R4, a severe form of LGMD that afflicts young children with clinical symptoms similar to DMD. Almost one third of the unrelated LGMD2E/R4 patients had the same point mutation (c.544A>C) in the SGCB gene, suggestive of a founder effect, described here for the first time in India. Conclusion This study underscores the need for a complete genetic work up to precisely diagnose patients and to initiate appropriate counseling programs, disease management and prevention strategies.

Abstract This study utilizes finite element analysis (FEA) to explore the effect of standardized notch shapes—triangular, circular, and rectangular on the tensile behavior of oxide–oxide (O–O) ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) across various temperature ranges. Findings reveal that unnotched samples exhibited a superior equivalent stress of ∼425 MPa, closely aligning with experimental values. However, under elevated temperatures of 1000°C and 1200°C, degradation occurs, reaching up to 54% decrease at 1200°C. Notched samples demonstrate similar behavior, with all notches acting as stress concentrators. Analysis of single and double notches highlights that circular notches have the most significant stress concentrators due to their smooth surfaces and lack of sharp edges, in contrast to rectangular and triangular notches. Although all notch types influence stress concentration, the absence of non‐sharp corners in circular notches limit stress dissipation, resulting in higher stress concentrations. This trend persists under high temperature as well. The study emphasizes the critical need for a thorough assessment of notch effects, considering their position, orientation, shape, and size, as they significantly affect the mechanical properties of O–O CMCs.

Abstract The role of meteorological droughts and initial conditions (land and atmosphere) in soil moisture drought (SMD) propagation are not yet fully understood. This work uses a drought event‐based causal framework to investigate the relative importance of meteorological drought (MD) duration and intensity and initial conditions that result in surface and rootzone SMD, considering their event‐level propagation time (PT) over South Asia. Initially, spatial variability of drought propagation is assessed by the Propagation Ratio (PR) computed based on MD counts that trigger SMD at various lags. PR depicts 2–3 months slower rootzone propagation than at surface. The gradual decrease in PR with increasing regional aridity indicates faster propagation over humid regions. The causal impact of initial conditions and MD parameters on propagating SMD are evaluated using normalized mutual information and a newly proposed normalized conditional mutual information. We found greater importance of triggering MD parameters followed by initial soil moisture condition on propagating SMD. This behavior is more evident for the surface layer propagation at shorter PT. There is a confounding effect of initial atmospheric conditions on drought propagation through initial soil moisture, depicting the significance of land‐atmosphere interactions prior to propagation. In the rootzone propagation, initial soil moisture has a greater influence on propagation, especially at longer PT, indicating the significance of soil moisture persistence. Stronger causal links obtained through the joint influence of MD parameters on SMD suggest the importance of accounting for MD duration and intensity simultaneously, which are not considered in drought index‐based propagation studies.

Abstract Patient‐derived xenografts (PDX) involve transplanting patient cells or tissues into immunodeficient mice, offering superior disease models compared with cell line xenografts and genetically engineered mice. In contrast to traditional cell‐line xenografts and genetically engineered mice, PDX models harbor the molecular and biologic features from the original patient tumor and are generationally stable. This high fidelity makes PDX models particularly suitable for preclinical and coclinical drug testing, therefore better predicting therapeutic efficacy. Although PDX models are becoming more useful, the several factors influencing their reliability and predictive power are not well understood. Several existing studies have looked into the possibility that PDX models could be important in enhancing our knowledge with regard to tumor genetics, biomarker discovery, and personalized medicine; however, a number of problems still need to be addressed, such as the high cost and time‐consuming processes involved, together with the variability in tumor take rates. This review addresses these gaps by detailing the methodologies to generate PDX models, their application in cancer research, and their advantages over other models. Further, it elaborates on how artificial intelligence and machine learning were incorporated into PDX studies to fast‐track therapeutic evaluation. This review is an overview of the progress that has been done so far in using PDX models for cancer research and shows their potential to be further improved in improving our understanding of oncogenesis.

Abstract Objective The TGF‐β superfamily member activin, a dimer of the gene products of INHBA and/or INHBB, has been implicated in immune cell maturation and recruitment, but its immune impact within epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is not well characterized. We sought to explore differences in activin (INHBA/ Inhibin‐βA and INHBB/ Inhibin‐βB) between malignant and ovarian tissues at the RNA and protein level and assess the relationship between activin and immune cells in EOC. Methods Publicly available RNA sequencing data were accessed from GEO (#GSE143897) with normalization and quantification performed via DESeq2. Immune gene expression profile was further explored within the TCGA‐OV cohort derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to evaluate activin A and T‐cell markers CD8 and FoxP3 at the protein level. ELISA to activin‐A was used to assess levels in the ascites of advanced EOC patients. Kaplan–Meier curves were generated to visualize survival outcomes. Results Gene expression levels of components of the activin signaling pathway were elevated within EOC when compared to a benign cohort, with differences in activin type I/II receptor gene profiles identified. Additionally, INHBA gene expression was linked to lymphocytic immune markers in EOC samples. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed a positive correlation of CD8 and FOXP3 staining with activin A at the protein level in both primary and metastatic epithelial ovarian cancer samples. Furthermore, Activin‐A (inhibin‐βA) is significantly elevated in EOC patient ascites. Conclusion INHBA expression is elevated within EOC, correlating with worse survival, with activin protein levels correlating with specific immune infiltration. Our findings suggest that activin‐A may play a role in suppressing anti‐tumor immunity in EOC, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.

Abstract Petroleum‐based plastics levy significant environmental and economic costs that can be alleviated with sustainably sourced, biodegradable, and bio‐based polymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). However, industrial‐scale production of PHAs faces barriers stemming from insufficient product yields and high costs. To address these challenges, we must look beyond the current suite of microbes for PHA production and investigate non‐model organisms with versatile metabolisms. In that vein, we assessed PHA production by the photosynthetic purple non‐sulfur bacteria (PNSB) Rhodomicrobium vannielii and Rhodomicrobium udaipurense. We show that both species accumulate PHA across photo‐heterotrophic, photo‐hydrogenotrophic, photo‐ferrotrophic, and photo‐electrotrophic growth conditions, with either ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) or dinitrogen gas (N2) as nitrogen sources. Our data indicate that nitrogen source plays a significant role in dictating PHA synthesis, with N2 fixation promoting PHA production during photoheterotrophy and photoelectrotrophy but inhibiting production during photohydrogenotrophy and photoferrotrophy. We observed the highest PHA titres (up to 44.08 mg/L, or 43.61% cell dry weight) when cells were grown photoheterotrophically on sodium butyrate with N2, while production was at its lowest during photoelectrotrophy (as low as 0.04 mg/L, or 0.16% cell dry weight). We also find that photohydrogenotrophically grown cells supplemented with NH4Cl exhibit the highest electron yields – up to 58.89% – while photoheterotrophy demonstrated the lowest (0.27%–1.39%). Finally, we highlight superior electron conversion and PHA production compared to a related PNSB, Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE‐1. This study illustrates the value of studying non‐model organisms like Rhodomicrobium for sustainable PHA production and indicates future directions for exploring PNSB metabolisms.

Abstract Pemphigoid, a rare autoimmune skin disease affecting the elderly, requires effective pharmacy management. This includes medication therapy, patient education, and counseling. Understanding pharmacokinetics and potential drug interactions are crucial for optimal treatment and minimizing adverse effects. In this case, the patient is a 65‐year‐old male who was diagnosed with pemphigoid 2 months ago. He is currently taking prednisone, an oral corticosteroid, to manage the symptoms. The pharmacist plays a crucial role in medication therapy by monitoring the patient's response to the medication and adjusting the dosage if necessary. Additionally, patient education is vital in ensuring that the patient understands the importance of adherence to the medication regimen and the potential side effects. The pharmacist can also provide counseling on lifestyle modifications and self‐care measures to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life. Overall, effective pharmacy management is essential for optimizing treatment outcomes and promoting patient well‐being in pemphigoid cases. The pharmacist's role in pemphigoid cases is crucial for effective medication management and patient education. They monitor the patient's response to treatment, make necessary adjustments, and empower them to take an active role in managing their condition. This approach ultimately improves the overall well‐being of patients with pemphigoid.

Abstract This study reports the use of Keplerate‐type {Mo72Fe30} polyoxometalate (POMs) nanostructures as a bi‐functional‐electrocatalyst for HER and OER in an alkaline medium with a lower overpotential (135 mV for HER and 264 mV for OER), and excellent electrochemical stability. The bi‐functional catalytic properties of {Mo72Fe30} POM are studied using a scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) via current mapping using substrate generation and tip collection mode. Furthermore, the bipolar nature of the {Mo72Fe30} POM nano‐electrocatalysts is studied using the electrochemical gating via simultaneous monitoring of the electrochemical (cell) and electrical ({Mo72Fe30} POM) signals. Next, a prototype water electrolyzer fabricated using {Mo72Fe30} POM electrocatalysts showed they can drive 10 mA cm−2 with a low cell voltage of 1.62 V in lab‐scale test conditions. Notably, the {Mo72Fe30} POM electrolyzers’ performance assessment based on recommended conditions for industrial aspects shows that they require a very low overpotential of 1.89 V to drive 500 mA cm−2, highlighting their promising candidature toward clean‐hydrogen production.

Key Clinical Message Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a chronic autoimmune blistering disorder characterized by the loss of intraepithelial adhesion affecting the skin and mucous membranes, predominantly affects females in their fifth and sixth decades of life. Due to its rare occurrence in children and adolescents, there is often a delay in diagnosis and treatment in this age group. PV should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of oral ulcerative and vesiculobullous lesions in both children and adolescents.

Abstract Repeated broiler litter application on agricultural lands can cause nutrient enrichment of subsurface effluent, especially with the existence of preferential flow through soil macropores. Previous studies quantifying soil macropores have not attempted to establish a connection of soil macropore characteristics with the subsurface nutrient (nitrogen [N] and phosphorus [P]) losses, across different topographical locations in the field. This study investigated the effect of broiler litter application and preferential flow on subsurface nutrient transport (N and P) at different topographical positions (upslope, midslope, and downslope) in a no‐till pasture field located in Alabama, USA. Twelve intact soil columns (150 mm id and 500 mm length) were used, and the nutrient leaching measurements from laboratory experiments were linked to soil macropore characteristics quantified using X‐ray computed tomography image analysis and solute transport modeling. Treatments included surface broadcast broiler litter (5 Mg ha−1, on dry basis) and unamended control. Leachates were analyzed for dissolved reactive P (DRP), total P (TP), and nitrate + nitrite‐N (NO3− + NO2−–N). The bromide breakthrough curves provided evidence of preferential flow in all columns. Litter application significantly increased leachate P concentrations, and average TP and DRP concentrations were significantly higher in the leachate from upslope columns compared to those at downslope location. The NO3−–N concentrations in leachate exceeded the US EPA drinking water standard of 10 mg L−1 in all the treatment columns. The highest flow‐weighted mean concentrations of TP and DRP, at 2.7 and 2.5 mg L−1, respectively, were recorded in the upslope columns. Soil physicochemical properties and nutrient leaching losses varied substantially across topographical positions, indicating a need for variable litter application rates to reduce P build‐up and subsequent leaching in vulnerable locations within the field. The relevance of the effect of topographic position on nutrient leaching found in this study should be further tested by investigating a wider range of slopes and soil types in pastures.

Background Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in patients with kidney failure, and their risk of cardiovascular events is 10 to 20 times higher as compared with the general population. Methods and Results We evaluated 508 822 patients who initiated dialysis between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2014 using the United States Renal Data System with linked Medicare claims. We determined hospitalization rates for cardiovascular events, defined by acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, and stroke. We examined the association of sex with outcome of cardiovascular events, cardiovascular death, and all‐cause death using adjusted time‐to‐event models. The mean age was 70±12 years and 44.7% were women. The cardiovascular event rate was 232 per thousand person‐years (95% CI, 231–233), with a higher rate in women than in men (248 per thousand person‐years [95% CI, 247–250] versus 219 per thousand person‐years [95% CI, 217–220]). Women had a 14% higher risk of cardiovascular events than men (hazard ratio [HR], 1.14 [95% CI, 1.13–1.16]). Women had a 16% higher risk of heart failure (HR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.15–1.18]), a 31% higher risk of stroke (HR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.28–1.34]), and no difference in risk of acute coronary syndrome (HR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.99–1.03]). Women had a lower risk of cardiovascular death (HR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.88–0.90]) and a lower risk of all‐cause death than men (HR, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.95–0.97]). Conclusions Among patients undergoing dialysis, women have a higher risk of cardiovascular events of heart failure and stroke than men. Women have a lower adjusted risk of cardiovascular mortality and all‐cause mortality.

Abstract Acne, a common skin condition, is primarily seen in teenagers and young adults and is characterised by large pus‐filled bumps beneath the skin. Cystic acne is a common form and is linked to a high incidence of acne‐related skin diseases. Causes include age, sex, and lifestyle changes. Treatment options for severe acne include medications, laser therapy, chemical peels, and microneedling patches. This review focuses on cystic acne treatment options and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. Medications like isotretinoin reduce inflammation but have side effects. Laser therapy targets bacteria without medication but may require multiple sessions for optimal results.

Abstract From an engineering point of view, non‐linear systems are essential to the operation of control systems, because all systems actually have a non‐linear state in nature. In reality, there are many different kinds of non‐linear systems hidden by this negative definition. For successful analysis and control, the identification of non‐linear systems using unknown models is typically necessary. Till now, numerous approaches are developed for identifying non‐linear systems, but it cannot be employed with a large number of components. Moreover, system identification is typically restricted to output and input signals alone, also such systems are rarely used in reality. This is the primary justification for using non‐linear systems in this research. So, this research proposed a non‐linear model of system identification for large‐scale systems under the consideration of two systems: bilinear system and Volterra system. Therefore, a novel algorithm named Self Adaptive Penguin Search Optimization (SAPeSO) is introduced to attain the system characteristics properly and minimize the output variation. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed work is compared with existing works in terms of various error measures. This research mainly focuses on the application‐oriented engineering problems. In particular, the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of the proposed work for the Volterra system at 4000 samples is 18.83%, 14.05%, 8.88%, 29.72%, 19.91%, and 6.70% which is better than the existing bald eagle search (BES), arithmetic optimization algorithm (AOA), whale optimization algorithm (WOA), nonlinear autoregressive moving average with exogenous inputs‐ frequency response function + principal component analysis (NARMAX‐FRF+PCA), Global Gravitational Search Algorithm‐Assisted Kalman Filter (CGS‐KF), and sparse regression and separable least squares method (SR‐SLSM) methods, respectively. Finally, the error is minimum for the proposed model when compared with the other traditional approaches.

Abstract Background Tumor‐associated angiogenesis mediates the growth and metastasis of most solid cancers. Targeted therapies of the VEGF pathways can effectively block these processes but often fail to provide lasting benefits due to acquired resistance and complications. Results Recently, we discovered βIV‐spectrin as a powerful regulator of angiogenesis and potential new target. We previously reported that βIV‐spectrin is dynamically expressed in endothelial cells (EC) to induce VEGFR2 protein turnover during development. Here, we explored how βIV‐spectrin influences the tumor vasculature using the murine B16 melanoma model and determined that loss of EC‐specific βIV‐spectrin dramatically promotes tumor growth and metastasis. Intraperitoneally injected B16 cells formed larger tumors with increased tumor vessel density and greater propensity for metastatic spread particularly to the chest cavity and lung compared to control mice. These results support βIV‐spectrin as a key regulator of tumor angiogenesis and a viable vascular target in cancer.

Abstract The study's primary aim was to examine how a stroke affects health‐related quality of life (QoL), and a secondary aim was to link this event with clinical and sociodemographic factors. Stroke patients were included in the study. First, 94 patients underwent a quantitative analytical cross‐sectional study 3 months after starting medication. Using multivariable linear regression, relationships between the severity of the initial stroke were investigated. From the raw data, we determined the standard deviation and the standard error of the mean. If the p‐value is less than .05, it is considered significant, and if it's less than .0001, it is extremely significant. The majority 94.68% were diagnosed with ischemic stroke, and only 5.32% were hemorrhagic stroke; 56.32% of the patients were male, and 43.68% were female; one‐third of the patients were found to be smokers and alcoholics; 9.57% of the patients had a family history of stroke; and 9.5% of the patients had a history of stroke. Patients with stroke comorbidities, including high blood pressure 88.19%, diabetes 51.06%, high cholesterol 22.34%, coronary artery disease 23.40%, smoking 30.85%, and alcoholism 24.46%. Significant dangers were posed by both hypertension and smoking. There was a statistically significant improvement in quality of life between the two groups, with the intervention group showing a mean difference of 112. The p‐value for this improvement was less than .0001. The quality of life of stroke survivors can be improved through direct screening, monitoring of the patient, planned therapy, and management.

Abstract Vibration compensation in track displacement monitoring is explored by using rail image feature points. The key point is to compare the image of the rail to be tested with the image of the standard rail. A downstream section of Metro Line A is selected for real time analysis of image. The sampling frequency of the detection system is 0.5m/point, and the driving speed of the detection vehicle is about 40km/h, take the distance of 100m between K23+000‐K22+900 of kilometer mark, total 200 points, and analyze the image data by grey scale conversion concept. In order to verify the accuracy of the vibration compensation data, one point is taken at an interval of 5m, and a total of 20 points are measured, and compare and analyze with dynamic real‐time detection data. After vibration compensation, the geometric parameters of the contact rail are closer to the expected value, and the maximum error can be controlled within ±3mm. Using biomedical image‐based processing concept to realize the track displacement monitoring method, which meets the requirements of non‐contact measurement, and the degree of automation is high, it can be monitored and alarmed in real time, and it has a good application prospect.

Abstract Neuromorphic artificial intelligence systems are the future of ultrahigh performance computing clusters to overcome complex scientific and economical challenges. Despite their importance, the advancement in quantum neuromorphic systems is slow without specific device design. To elucidate biomimicking mammalian brain synapses, a new class of quantum topological neuristors (QTN) with ultralow energy consumption (pJ) and higher switching speed (µs) is introduced. Bioinspired neural network characteristics of QTNs are the effects of edge state transport and tunable energy gap in the quantum topological insulator (QTI) materials. With augmented device and QTI material design, top notch neuromorphic behavior with effective learning‐relearning‐forgetting stages is demonstrated. Critically, to emulate the real‐time neuromorphic efficiency, training of the QTNs is demonstrated with simple hand gesture game by interfacing them with artificial neural networks to perform decision‐making operations. Strategically, the QTNs prove the possession of incomparable potential to realize next‐gen neuromorphic computing for the development of intelligent machines and humanoids.

Abstract The increasing demand for wearable electronic devices has resulted in tremendous progress in research on energy harvesting and storage devices/technologies. Energy storage devices require a power source to charge them, whereas energy harvesting devices require a storage compartment to store the harvested energy for sustainable delivery. Recently, a piezoelectrically driven self‐charging supercapacitor power cell (SCSPC) was developed to harvest and store electrical energy in a solitary system to determine the potential impact of these two types of energy devices for wearable electronic applications. This review describes the recent advances in piezoelectric‐driven SCSPCs in terms of device configuration, piezoelectric separator, electrolyte types, electrode materials, current collectors, and system integration. This review focuses specifically on the principles and mechanism of the self‐charging process that occurred in the SCSPCs and the use of a promising piezo electrochemical spectroscopic tool to realize the piezo electrochemical energy transfer and storage process in the SCSPCs. Further, the current challenges and new perspectives for future developments in the emerging area of SCSPCs or integrated energy devices are discussed.

Abstract Laser texturing has been carried out on the surface of the silicone nano‐micro composites to achieve super hydrophobic properties, and water droplet‐initiated Corona discharge studies were carried out. The Corona inception voltage (CIV) exhibits considerable enhancement with increase in the nano filler content under DC voltage compared with AC voltage. The corona inception voltage is high with the textured surface and is found to have direct correlation with contact angle of the composite specimen. The Corona inception voltage was measured using Ultra‐high frequency (UHF) and fluorescent fibre techniques. It is observed that the fluorescent fibre technique is more sensitive in identifying discharges. Frequency domain analysis of UHF signal shows a dominant frequency at 1 GHz and for fluorescent signal, the spectral content is in the range of DC to 10 MHz. The rise time and pulse width of the UHF signal increases with the increase in the nano filler in composite material. The energy content of UHF/fluorescent signal due to discharges shows similar trend with its increase in energy with variation in its magnitude of the signal formed. The pulse width of fluorescent signal formed due to water droplet‐initiated discharges under AC and DC voltage is almost the same, and with the textured specimen it is quite low than the non‐textured material.

Abstract Background Plantar ulcers are a leading complication of leprosy that requires frequent visits to hospital and is associated with stigma. The extent of burden of ulcers in leprosy and its risk factors are scant impeding the development of targeted interventions to prevent and promote healing of ulcers. The aim of this review is to generate evidence on the prevalence of plantar ulcer and its risk factors in leprosy. Methods Databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, BVS), conference abstracts and reference lists were searched for eligible studies. Studies were included that reported a point prevalence of plantar ulcer and/or its “risk factors” associated with development of ulcers (either causatively or predictively), including individual level, disease related and bio‐mechanical factors. We followed PRISMA guidelines for this review. Random‐effects meta‐analysis was undertaken to estimate the pooled point prevalence of ulcers. Reported risk factors in included studies were narratively synthesised. This review is registered in PROSPERO: CRD42022316726. Results Overall, 15 studies (8 for prevalence of ulcer and 7 for risk factors) met the inclusion criteria. The pooled point prevalence of ulcer was 34% (95% CIs: 21%, 46%) and 7% (95% CIs: 4%, 11%) among those with foot anaesthesia and among all people affected by leprosy, respectively. Risk factors for developing ulcers included: unable to feel 10 g of monofilament on sensory testing, pronated/hyper‐pronated foot, foot with peak plantar pressure, foot with severe deformities, and those with lower education and the unemployed. Conclusions The prevalence of plantar ulceration in leprosy is as high as 34% among those with loss of sensation in the feet. However, the incidence and recurrence rates of ulceration are least reported. The inability to feel 10 g of monofilament appears to be a strong predictor of those at risk of developing ulcers. However, there is a paucity of evidence on identifying those at risk of developing plantar ulcers in leprosy. Prospective studies are needed to estimate the incidence of ulcers. Identifying individuals at risk of ulcers will help design targeted interventions to minimize risk factors, prevent ulcers and promote ulcer healing.

Abstract Ultrahigh temperature ceramics (UHTCs) were analyzed for their suitability in hypersonic flight conditions using balanced heat equations, transport equation, and finite element modeling technique. Mathematical model was derived on the assumption that the induced porosity follows linear and parabolic solutions of Laplace equation and applied external load mimicking hypersonic conditions with critical heat flux ranging between 7 and 44 MW/m2. Simulations were carried out with four different UHTCs combinations and the results outlined a temperature rise exceeding 4700°C with deformation observed on the fixed area and where the heat flux was generated. The influence of porosity had a greater impact on the performance of the material as it led to a reduction in deformation compared to dense samples. Porous UHTCs exhibited a good thermal shock resistance owing to the release of thermal stresses through pores, which also enhanced the thermal insulation of the structure.

Abstract This research focuses on frequency‐based lossless new encoding technique with low computation and low memory scheme. This encoding technique doesn't require, any table similar to Huffman and Golomb Rice encoder, and doesn't take high computation time like an arithmetic encoder. For better comparative results, nearly 200 standard images were tested with the proposed encoder and their results were compared with the standard encoders. Based on the analysis of results reported in the experimental part, the proposed scheme in Discrete Cosine Transformation (DCT) achieves a high Compression Ratio (CR) of 97.68 %, Bits Per Pixel (BPP) of 0.19, Peak Signal To Noise Ratio (PSNR) of 27.62 dB for pepper image, CR of 98.65%, BPP of 0.11 and PSNR of 29.24 dB for house image, CR of 98.58 %, BPP of 0.11, PSNR of 30.59 dB for pepper image, CR of 98.37%, BPP of 0.13, PSNR of 31.37dB for house image in Discrete Wavelet Transformation (DWT) than compared to other encoders. It consumes less computation time to attain superior CR with a better quality of reconstructed picture than DCT based Huffman, Golomb‐ Rice (GR) coder and Low Complexity, Low memory Entropy Coder (LLEC), DWT based Arithmetic, GR code, LLEC.

Abstract Silicone rubber micro‐nanocomposites were fabricated and laser texturing was performed on their surface to investigate super hydrophobic properties. Irrespective of type of texture (square, hexagon or diamond), the contact angle is almost the same but a marginal increase in contact angle is observed with increase in wt% of nano fillers in silicone rubber. Water droplet initiated corona inception voltage (CIV) is measured by fluorescence technique and the CIV tends to increase with texturing and is high under—DC followed with +DC and AC voltages. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis of the fluorescence signal due to corona discharge indicates that the energy content of the fluorescent signal lies in the range DC to 20 MHz. Surface temperature of the sample after water droplet initiated discharge is found to be high under DC rather than under AC voltages. Textured surface has a relatively lower temperature decay rate under AC and DC voltages profiles, compared to nontextured surface. The formation of shallow charge traps is predominant with the textured specimens. In general, the diamond and hexagonal micro textured surface specimen exhibit better performance in terms of water droplet initiated CIV, hydrophobicity, and surface potential decay characteristics.

Abstract Epoxy‐Ni nanocomposites of different weight percentages are subjected to accelerated aging by water aging, thermal aging and UV irradiation to understand the influence of aging conditions on their space charge behavior. Homo‐charge accumulation is observed for unaged epoxy‐Ni nanocomposites. The magnitude of accumulated space charge is found to be lesser in 0.5 wt% epoxy‐Ni nanocomposite specimen compared to other unaged specimens. Water diffusion coefficient of epoxy‐Ni nanocomposites decreased with increasing weight percentage of filler addition. Space charge accumulation tends to increase with water aging. Increment in the space charge accumulation of 0.25 wt% epoxy‐Ni nanocomposite specimen is lesser compared to other water aged specimens. Exposure to thermal stress resulted in deterioration of the molecular structure of insulating material leading to an increase in trap‐controlled mobility, further leading to the reduction in space charge density with aging period. UV irradiation marginally assisted the charge transportation phenomenon, which resulted in the slight decrease of space charge density of epoxy‐Ni nanocomposites after UV irradiation. Hetero‐charge formation is found for all the three aging procedures. Overall, the specimen S1 reflected better space charge characteristics after being subjected to different aging conditions.

Abstract Knowledge of relationships in wild populations is critical for better understanding mating systems and inbreeding scenarios to inform conservation strategies for endangered species. To delineate pedigrees in wild populations, study genetic connectivity, study genotype‐phenotype associations, trace individuals, or track wildlife trade, many identified individuals need to be genotyped at thousands of loci, mostly from noninvasive samples. This requires us to (a) identify the most common noninvasive sample available from identified individuals, (b) assess the ability to acquire genome‐wide data from such samples, and (c) evaluate the quality of such genome‐wide data, and its ability to reconstruct relationships between animals within a population. We followed identified individuals from a wild endangered tiger population and found that shed hair samples were the most common compared to scat samples, opportunistically found carcasses, and opportunistic invasive samples. We extracted DNA from these samples, prepared whole genome sequencing libraries, and sequenced genomes from these. Whole genome sequencing methods resulted in between 25%–98% of the genome sequenced for five such samples. Exploratory population genetic analyses revealed that these data were free of holistic biases and could recover expected population structure and relatedness. Mitochondrial genomes recovered matrilineages in accordance with long‐term monitoring data. Even with just five samples, we were able to uncover the matrilineage for three individuals with unknown ancestry. In summary, we demonstrated that noninvasive shed hair samples yield adequate quality and quantity of DNA in conjunction with sensitive library preparation methods, and provide reliable data from hundreds of thousands of SNPs across the genome. This makes shed hair an ideal noninvasive resource for studying individual‐based genetics of elusive endangered species in the wild.

Abstract Worldwide trends in mobile electrification, largely driven by the popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) will skyrocket demands for lithium‐ion battery (LIB) production. As such, up to four million metric tons of LIB waste from EV battery packs could be generated from 2015 to 2040. LIB recycling directly addresses concerns over long‐term economic strains due to the uneven geographic distribution of resources (especially for Co and Li) and environmental issues associated with both landfilling and raw material extraction. However, LIB recycling infrastructure has not been widely adopted, and current facilities are mostly focused on Co recovery for economic gains. This incentive will decline due to shifting market trends from LiCoO2 toward cobalt‐deficient and mixed‐metal cathodes (eg, LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2). Thus, this review covers recycling strategies to recover metals in mixed‐metal LIB cathodes and comingled scrap comprising different chemistries. As such, hydrometallurgical processes can meet this criterion, while also requiring a low environmental footprint and energy consumption compared to pyrometallurgy. Following pretreatment to separate the cathode from other battery components, the active material is dissolved entirely by reductive acid leaching. A complex leachate is generated, comprising cathode metals (Li+, Ni2+, Mn2+, and Co2+) and impurities (Fe3+, Al3+, and Cu2+) from the current collectors and battery casing, which can be separated and purified using a series of selective precipitation and/or solvent extraction steps. Alternatively, the cathode can be resynthesized directly from the leachate.

Secondary antibiotic prophylaxis with regular intramuscular benzathine penicillin G (BPG) is the cornerstone of rheumatic heart disease management. However, there is a growing body of evidence that patients with rheumatic heart disease who have severe valvular heart disease with or without reduced ventricular function may be dying from cardiovascular compromise following BPG injections. This advisory responds to these concerns and is intended to: (1) raise awareness, (2) provide risk stratification, and (3) provide strategies for risk reduction. Based on available evidence and expert opinion, we have divided patients into low‐ and elevated‐risk groups, based on symptoms and the severity of underlying heart disease. Patients with elevated risk include those with severe mitral stenosis, aortic stenosis, and aortic insuffiency; those with decreased left ventricular systolic dysfunction; and those with New York Heart Association class III and IV symptoms. For these patients, we believe the risk of adverse reaction to BPG, specifically cardiovascular compromise, may outweigh its theoretical benefit. For patients with elevated risk, we newly advise that oral prophylaxis should be strongly considered. In addition, we advocate for a multifaceted strategy for vasovagal risk reduction in all patients with rheumatic heart disease receiving BPG. As current guidelines recommend, all low‐risk patients without a history of penicillin allergy or anaphylaxis should continue to be prescribed BPG for secondary antibiotic prophylaxis. We publish this advisory in the hopes of saving lives and avoiding events that can have devastating effects on patient and clinician confidence in BPG.