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In recent decades, fog computing has contributed significantly to the expansion of smart cities. It generated numerous real‐time data and coped with time‐constraint applications. They use sensors, physical objects, and network standards to monitor health imaging, traffic surveillance, industrial management, and so forth. Interactive applications have been proposed for the Internet of Things (IoT) to control wireless channels and improve communication. However, most of the existing lack of handing network interference and a reliable monitoring process. Moreover, many solutions are vulnerable to external threats, resulting in inconsistent and untrustworthy information for end users. Thus, this article proposes a framework that considers possible shortest paths to provide the most reliable and low‐latency healthcare decision system using Q‐learning. In addition, fog devices offer a trusted transmission interference system and are kept secure. The proposed framework is specially designed for rapid real‐time medical data processing while enforcing robust security throughout the IoT‐based transmission process. To identify the health sensors in pairwise objects with the initial computing cost, the proposed framework applies graph theory. It also extracts the most effective and least loaded communication edges by examining the behaviour of devices. Moreover, the identities of devices are verified using lightweight timestamps and secret information, accordingly, it decreases the privacy threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foeniculum vulgare Miller is a highly valued aromatic and nutritious plant. The unique compositions of its essential oil make it more valuable in the flavor, fragrance, and medicinal industries. However, the potential of superheated steam distillation for obtaining essential oils from its seeds has not been explored in detail. This study assessed the composition, yield, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities of essential oils distilled from F. vulgare seeds using traditional hydrodistillation, steam distillation, and superheated steam distillation. Superheated steam distillation resulted in the maximum quantity of essential oil (5.24%) compared to steam (3.47%) and hydrodistillation (2.47%). Trans‐anethole, fenchone, estragole, and limonene were the main identified by GC–MS analysis in the essential oils, and these compounds were abundant in the essential oil produced by superheated steam distillation. Essential oil distilled by superheated steam distillation presented the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pastrulla multocida, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli. The highest antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani, Aspergillus flavus, and Alternaria alternate was also demonstrated by the same essential oil. These findings demonstrated the potential of superheated steam distillation as a highly effective and efficient technique for distilling high‐quality essential oils from Foeniculum vulgare Miller seeds. It is suitable for various applications in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of model predictive control (MPC) for the control of modular multilevel converters (MMCs) is widely explored because it offers flexibility in integrating multiobjective control and delivers superior dynamic response. Nonetheless, the increase in computational complexity due to the rise in the number of submodules (SMs) is one of the major drawbacks of this technique. This paper presents a finite control set model predictive control (FCS‐MPC) that significantly reduces the computational complexity by employing sparse identification of non‐linear systems (SINDy) to obtain a simplified linear model for the MMC. The SINDy model reduces the complexity of performing the prediction step by integrating input terms into the dynamics of load current and circulating current. This simplifies the implementation compared to the conventional FCS‐MPC approaches by eliminating the need to evaluate the voltage dynamics. The computational burden is further reduced while maintaining 2N+1 $2N+1$ voltage levels at the output by restricting the number of combinations for the inserted SMs to only N3+1 $\left(\frac{N}{3}+1\right)$ instead of (N+1)2 ${(N+1)}^{2}$. A detailed comparison between the proposed technique and the existing strategies demonstrates that the proposed technique offers a more computationally efficient solution for implementing FCS‐MPC on MMCs, while improving the circulating current suppression due to more accurate predictions. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the performance of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural plants are the fundamental source of nutrients worldwide. The attack of diseases on these plants leads to food scarcity and results in a catastrophic situation. These diseases can be prevented by using manual or automatic approaches. The manual approach, where plant pathologists inspect fields, is costly, error‐prone, and time‐consuming. Alternatively, automatic approaches utilize 2D plant images processed through machine learning. The current study opts for the later approach due to its advantages in terms of speed, efficiency, and convenience. Convolutional neural network (CNN)‐based prominent models, such as MobileNet, ResNet50, Inception, and Xception, are preferred for automatic plant disease detection due to their high performance, but they demand substantial computational resources, limiting their use to a class of large‐scale farmers. The proposed study developed a novel CNN model that is suitable for small‐scale farmers. The numerical outcomes indicate that the proposed model surpassed the state‐of‐the‐art models by achieving an average accuracy of 96.86%. The proposed model utilized comparatively limited computational resources as analyzed through floating‐point operations (FLOPs), number of parameters, computation time, and model's size. Furthermore, a statistical approach was proposed to analyze a model while collectively accounting for its performance and computational complexity. It is observed from the results that the proposed model outperformed the state‐of‐the‐art techniques in terms of both average recognition accuracy and computational complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graph theory serves as a valuable tool across numerous scientific disciplines, offering the means to model and analyze intricate networks. In this study, we explore the application of distance‐based topological indices to a variety of graphs, including the total graph of paths, cycles, complete graphs, wheel graphs, helm graphs, and the Cartesian product of K1 and Kn. We investigate five distance‐based indices: the Wiener index, multiplicative Wiener index, hyper‐Wiener index, Harary index, and average distance. Through detailed analysis, we derive general formulas for these indices and test them on the specified graphs. Using MATLAB for numerical comparisons, we demonstrate the effectiveness of these indices in capturing the structural properties of different graph types. The findings from this study enhance our understanding of topological indices and their applications within the field of graph theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between perturbed conformal invariance and Mei symmetry in the generalized perturbed Hamiltonian systems with additional terms. A necessary and sufficient condition is derived to determine whether perturbed conformal invariance can be considered an approximate Mei symmetry. Furthermore, the Mei adiabatic invariants are also obtained. Lastly, an example is presented to demonstrate the key findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing literature consists of various studies that have addressed the interrelationship between banking expansion and carbon emissions but failed to consider supply‐side ecological issues. Keeping this in view, the research aims to assess the impact of green energy transition, banking sector expansion, and import price of crude oil on the "load capacity factor (LCF)" in the United States from 1990 to 2021. The "LCF" has emerged as a novel ecological proxy to date that includes both "biocapacity and ecological footprint." Using the "bootstrap autoregressive distributed lag" model, the research found that the consumption of renewable energy can enhance the ecological quality of the United States. The results verified the acceptance of the "load capacity curve" hypothesis. Moreover, it demonstrates that banking development promotes environmental quality. Specifically, a 1% improvement in the banking industry leads to a 0.93% increase in the LCF in the short term, as well as a 1.28% increase in the long run. Furthermore, the increase in crude oil import prices has a positive impact on the LCF and eventually promotes environmental sustainability. To be precise, a 1% rise in the price of imported crude oil results in a 0.35% increase in the long‐term LCF level. These results were backed by the findings of several robustness tests. The study, lastly, recommends that the banking sector and government policymakers should use banking growth in promoting green energy to attain their target of zero carbon emissions by 2050. Highlights: The research aims to assess the impact of green energy transition, banking sector expansion, and import price of crude oil on the load capacity factor (LCF) in the United States.The findings of the carried analysis confirm that the load capacity curve hypothesis in the United States.Banking development promotes environmental quality.The increase in crude oil import prices has a positive impact on the LCF.The consumption of renewable energy can enhance the ecological quality of the Unietd States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of research and development (R&D) investment and financial development on environmental degradation measured by carbon emissions (CO2), and energy use along with some other variables in a panel of 12 Asian economies using balanced panel data from 1997 to 2020. The empirical estimates of fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares reveal that R&D spending, financial development, and globalization lower environmental degradation by reducing CO2 emissions. In contrast, economic growth, energy use, population, and industrialization increase environmental degradation (Model 1). Moreover, economic growth, R&D spending, financial development, environmental degradation, and industrialization have a positive direct effect on energy use, whereas population and globalization have an inverse relationship with energy use (Model 2). These empirical findings recommend that the management authorities of Asian economies need to develop thoughtful action plans to achieve a balance between economic growth, financial and industrial development, and the accomplishment of sustainable development goals by reducing carbon emissions and sustaining energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus, a high‐morbidity endocrine disease, is typically treated with synthetic hypoglycemic drugs that are costly and have severe side effects. Natural products, like mushrooms, offer a cost‐effective, accessible, and eco‐friendly alternative. Current study intends to examine the antidiabetic potential of mushroom‐based herbal formulation (MHF) on streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats. For this purpose, five different groups of Wister rats were established including one normal group. Among four diabetic groups, one group served as the diabetic control, while the remaining two groups were administrated with MHF 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, respectively, and the fifth was administered with metformin for 28 days. On the last day of experiment, all rats were sacrificed, and samples were collected for different analysis. The study outcomes revealed that the administration of MHF to diabetic rats resulted in remarkable (p < 0.001) improvements in fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and glycated hemoglobin along with other biochemical markers. The histopathological examination also showed the protective effect of MHF against diabetic‐induced damage in the pancreas, kidney, and liver. It also helps in the regeneration of β‐cells in the pancreas. These findings suggest MHF is a safer and more effective alternative for managing diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GaN nanostructures hold significant promise in advancing nanoscale light‐emitting devices. However, significant progress remains elusive, possibly due to the absence of innovative approaches. Beyond the smaller size of GaN nanostructures, the main interest lies in growing InGaN active layers on semi‐ and non‐polar orientations. Nevertheless, it is evident that while leveraging such a method holds initial promise, this approach may eventually reach its limits, prompting the need for fresh perspectives. In this manuscript, electrochemical etching is utilized to fabricate porous GaN nanopyramids. Given the absence of prior studies on electrochemical etching of GaN nanostructures, its etching behavior is investigated, revealing its selectivity concerning doping concentration and geometry. Furthermore, how the choice of electrolyte can differently impact the optical response of the etched template is explored. Subsequently, an InGaN/GaN quantum wells shell is grown as the active region. The significance of the approach is evidenced by a tenfold enhancement in photoluminescence emission. Porous nanopyramids demonstrate a higher internal quantum efficiency of 44.7% and faster radiative recombination time. Additionally, finite difference time domain simulation reveals a twofold increase in light extraction efficiency. This research will lead the way toward the development of a new class of nanostructures offering potential advancements in optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Benign ancient retroperitoneal schwannomas (BARS) exhibit abdominal masses and flank pain to incidental findings at more advanced stages. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis is essential for confirmation of benign nature. Our patient was misdiagnosed as ureteric colic, highlighting the need to consider BARS in differential diagnosis to prevent complications like hydronephrosis. Ancient schwannomas are usually benign neoplasms that originate from Schwann cells of peripheral nerves. We present a novel case of a 24‐year‐old young male with left flank pain and nausea which was initially thought to be left ureteric colic. However, in‐depth imaging and biopsy revealed a retroperitoneal mass. The definitive diagnosis was narrowed down to Benign Retroperitoneal Ancient Schwannoma (BARS) via immunohistochemistry and histopathological analysis. This often marble‐shaped S100 protein‐positive tumor is an under‐recognized and potential cause of hydronephrosis if localized near the renal structures. In addition, the retroperitoneal location with infrarenal abdominal aortic adherence is another rare peculiarity in the present case that demands prompt diagnosis and surgical excision to avoid any cardiovascular sequelae such as hypotension and abdominal pain, as indicated by the natural history of growth of this benign tumor. Therefore, timely excision of this benign tumor prior to its further proliferation is paramount. We initially planned laparoscopic removal but adopted excision via laparotomy because of the proximity of the vital structures. The postoperative course of the patient was uneventful and subsequently the patient's presenting complaint of left abdominal flank pain greatly improved. The patient was advised to undergo follow‐up computed tomography scan of kidney ureter bladder and RFT evaluation 6 months postsurgery which indicated no evidence of recurrence or iatrogenic complications. The diagnosis and management of the present case share valuable experiences for similar future cases worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, ultrasound‐assisted covalent binding method, free radical‐induced method, was used to prepare Moringa protein isolate (MPI) – gallic acid conjugates (MPI‐GAC) to examine the improvement of the sonication application. Additionally, the influence of polyphenol conjugation on functional and structural attributes of MPI was assessed thru spectral analysis, scanning electron microscopy, antioxidant activity, emulsification, foaming, and water and oil holding properties. The enhanced value of grafted polyphenol species was observed after introducing ultrasound treatment during free radical mediation process. The structural changes in protein by gallic acid conjugation were confirmed by using FT‐IR which illustrated the modification in MPI‐GAC with modified peak width of the amide‐I band. Scanning electron microscopy also showed a significant difference in the structure of MPI and MPI‐GAC. The grafting of gallic acid onto MPI directed under ultrasound‐assisted conditions conferred distinctive functional characteristics, containing elevated emulsification capacity (51.4 mg mL−1) along with enhanced water and oil holding capacity by 2.07 and 5.11 g g−1, respectively. Furthermore, conjugation also increased the protein solubility 89.3–97.6% and significant trend (68.04–88.06%) of antioxidant capacity was observed by increasing the concentration. The findings of this research work offer new insights on the effective fabrication of MPI‐GAC with multifaceted functionalities, thus broadening the scope and possibilities of high‐value Moringa seed protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathological dissociation is relatively common in the United States and may be associated with violent or criminal behavior. Dissociative Disorders, especially Dissociative Identity Disorder, are considered controversial diagnoses by some in the psychiatric and legal professions. Individuals who offend during dissociative states may not be criminally responsible if they meet the legal standard for insanity, however, insanity pleas based on dissociative symptoms are rare. This review examined Federal appellate case law for potential legal barriers to the insanity defense for dissociative conditions and any restrictions imposed on related expert evidence. Few rulings directly addressed these questions but there do not appear to be any unique barriers for dissociation‐related insanity pleas. Some cases provided valuable insights regarding the admission of expert evidence, effective expert testimony, and the role of defense counsel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the promising role of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in acute liver failure (ALF), high‐risk patients need liver transplantation and remain at risk for death due to cerebral complications. The objective of this study was to report outcomes of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for ALF with perioperative RRT. This was a single‐center retrospective cohort study. Out of 1167 LDLTs, 24 patients had ALF and met the King's College criteria for transplantation. They were categorized into no‐RRT (n = 13) and RRT (n = 11) groups. We looked at 1‐year posttransplant survival in these patients. The median serum ammonia level at the time of transplant in the no‐RRT and RRT groups was 259.5 mcg/dL (222.7–398) and 70.6 mcg/dL (58.1–92.6) (p = 0.005). In the RRT group, serum ammonia level < 100 mcg/dL was achieved in all patients. Seven (53.8%) patients in the no‐RRT group and 11/11 (100%) in the RRT group were extubated and regained full consciousness after LDLT (p = 0.013). The 90‐day mortality was 6/13 (46.1%) and 2/11 (18.1%) (p = 0.211). There was no brainstem herniation‐related mortality in the RRT group, that is, 5/13 (38.4%) and 0/11 (0%) (p = 0.030). The 1‐year posttransplant survival was also significantly higher in the RRT group (p = 0.031). The use of RRT lowers serum ammonia levels and might reduce posttransplant mortality due to brainstem herniation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Kawasaki disease (KD), a self‐limiting vasculitis, can present with a broader spectrum of vascular involvements, necessitating early recognition and prompt management. This case exemplifies the importance of involving multiple teams on board in managing complex presentations of KD. It also highlights the importance of close monitoring for the progression of the disease spectrum as well as family education to ensure favorable outcomes. The case also emphasizes the importance of long‐term follow‐up and further research to understand the prognosis, early screening tools, and possible complications due to multi‐organ involvement in KD along with their management strategies. Kawasaki disease (KD) is a multisystem vascular inflammatory syndrome, which predominantly affects the small and medium vessels in children within the age group of less than 5 years. The most threatened complication is the development of coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs). We present an extremely rare case of KD in a 2‐month, 21‐day‐old male infant with extensive vascular involvement, expanding the disease spectrum beyond the involvement of coronary arteries. These included aneurysmal dilatations of both internal carotid arteries, the descending aorta, bilateral multilevel intercostal arteries, coeliac artery, superior mesenteric artery, and both renal arteries. Implementing a multidisciplinary approach with early treatment via intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and dexamethasone proved to be most effective in the patient's management. Despite unique challenges such as severe coronary dilation and pseudomonas sepsis during the special care, the patient was stabilized and discharged after 11 days of hospital stay, highlighting the importance of early prompt management and a centered approach to evaluate in a broader spectrum. This case emphasizes the importance of long‐term follow‐up and further research to understand the prognosis, early screening tools, and possible complications due to multi‐organ involvement in KD along with their management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Acute digital ischemia is a rare manifestation of anti‐synthetase syndrome in the absence of Raynaud's phenomenon. A high index of suspicion may result in early diagnosis and better clinical outcomes. A 61‐year‐old male patient was admitted to the hospital for worsening arthralgias with morning stiffness lasting hours, as well as left sided headaches, and jaw pain while eating. He had significant weight loss and subjective fever at home. Multiple fingers and toes were noted to be ischemic. His laboratory workup was pertinent for significantly elevated inflammatory markers, and mild Creatinine kinase elevation. Chest imaging and later lung biopsy were notable for organizing pneumonia. Conventional angiogram showed evidence of significant digital disease without collaterals. Subsequent autoimmune screening tests with extended myositis‐specific and myositis‐associated panels revealed a strongly positive anti‐PL‐12 antibody and moderately positive anti‐ SSA‐52KD IgG ab. After ruling out infectious etiologies and malignancy, anti‐synthetase syndrome (ASyS) diagnosis was considered in the presence of ischemic digits, organizing pneumonia, polyarthralgia, constitutional symptoms, increased inflammatory markers and positive antibodies. The patient was treated with high dose prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil along with amlodipine and sildenafil for digital vasodilation. Acute digital ischemia may be the first manifestation of ASyS with ILD. A high index of suspicion is warranted for early diagnosis and better outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of the prior empirical literature that inquired about the direct role of corporate sustainability practices (CSP) as a composite construct in mitigating earnings management (EM) has produced equivocal outcomes. Therefore, this study examines the role of CSP not only as a combined construct but also as its three separate dimensions—social, economic, and environmental sustainability in restricting EM directly and with the distinct moderation of firm size that has rarely been probed in the past. Using the data of 255 Pakistani companies from 2018 to 2022, the estimations of ordinary least squares with panel‐corrected standard errors revealed that CSP and its separate dimensions significantly control accruals‐based earnings management, and all these relationships are further amplified by the moderation of firm size. However, neither CSP nor any of its dimensions, either directly or with the moderation of firm size, have a significant role in reducing real‐based earnings management. The additional analysis also validated these findings but only for large companies rather than small companies after splitting the sample based on the firm's size. The findings endorse the stakeholder theory and ethical perspective but oppose managerial opportunism in Pakistan. Besides enriching the existing body of knowledge, this research also offers several important implications for the theory, methodology, practice, and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work develops and evaluates a self‐navigated variable density spiral (VDS)‐based manifold regularization scheme to prospectively improve dynamic speech magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 T. Short readout duration spirals (1.3‐ms long) were used to minimize sensitivity to off‐resonance. A custom 16‐channel speech coil was used for improved parallel imaging of vocal tract structures. The manifold model leveraged similarities between frames sharing similar vocal tract postures without explicit motion binning. The self‐navigating capability of VDS was leveraged to learn the Laplacian structure of the manifold. Reconstruction was posed as a sensitivity‐encoding–based nonlocal soft‐weighted temporal regularization scheme. Our approach was compared with view‐sharing, low‐rank, temporal finite difference, extra dimension‐based sparsity reconstruction constraints. Undersampling experiments were conducted on five volunteers performing repetitive and arbitrary speaking tasks at different speaking rates. Quantitative evaluation in terms of mean square error over moving edges was performed in a retrospective undersampling experiment on one volunteer. For prospective undersampling, blinded image quality evaluation in the categories of alias artifacts, spatial blurring, and temporal blurring was performed by three experts in voice research. Region of interest analysis at articulator boundaries was performed in both experiments to assess articulatory motion. Improved performance with manifold reconstruction constraints was observed over existing constraints. With prospective undersampling, a spatial resolution of 2.4 × 2.4 mm2/pixel and a temporal resolution of 17.4 ms/frame for single‐slice imaging, and 52.2 ms/frame for concurrent three‐slice imaging, were achieved. We demonstrated implicit motion binning by analyzing the mechanics of the Laplacian matrix. Manifold regularization demonstrated superior image quality scores in reducing spatial and temporal blurring compared with all other reconstruction constraints. While it exhibited faint (nonsignificant) alias artifacts that were similar to temporal finite difference, it provided statistically significant improvements compared with the other constraints. In conclusion, the self‐navigated manifold regularized scheme enabled robust high spatiotemporal resolution dynamic speech MRI at 3 T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities like overgrazing, deforestation and mismanaged land use accelerate soil erosion (SE), causing nutritional and organic matter loss. In this study, we predicted the annual rate of soil loss in the Salt Range, extending south from the Pothohar plateau, Pakistan, using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The RUSLE model parameters and erosion probability zones were estimated using remote sensing and Geo‐Spatial methods. The annual average soil loss rates were calculated by considering five geo‐environmental factors, that is, slope length and steepness (LS), rainfall erosivity (R), cover management (C), soil erodibility (K), and conservation practice (P) range from 0–559 527, 1404–4431, 0–1, −0.14 to 1.64, and 0.2–122 t.ha−1.year−1$$ \left(t.{ha}^{-1}.{year}^{-1}\right) $$ respectively. This research determined that the yearly average rate of SE in the Salt Range varies from over 50 to above 350 t.ha−1.year−1$$ \mathrm{t}.{\mathrm{ha}}^{-1}.{\mathrm{year}}^{-1} $$. The distribution of land area across different SE probability zones reveals that a small portion (2.11%) is classified as High, a moderate portion (7.13%) falls under the category of Moderate, while the majority (90.7%) is classified as Low in terms of proneness towards erosion. The land devoid of vegetation and characterized by steep slopes is especially prone to SE. The Salt Range is highly vulnerable to SE risk due to climatic variations and improper land use practices. The result provides a spatial distribution of SE across the salt range, utilized for management planning processes and conservation at the policy level among decision‐makers and land‐use planners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxide-based solid electrolytes are gaining popularity among researchers owing to their great structural stability. In this work, a novel oxide-based ternary composite (AlPO4-SiO2-Li4P2O7) electrolyte is synthesized via a conventional solid-state process with excellent water stability and high ionic conductivity. The crystallographic structure of ternary composite is confirmed using x-ray diffraction and has a significant effect on ionic conductivity. The thermogravimetric analysis result shows a 22.26 wt% loss in the region of 25°C to 900°C due to the evaporation of volatile constituents, including nitrates, carbonates, and moisture. Surface analysis results revealed compact morphology and low porosity with arbitrary grain sizes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has been used to evaluate ionic conductivities. The Mn-ternary composite sintered at 900°C has shown ionic conductivity of 1.63 × 10−6 S/cm at ambient temperature. 8 wt%-LiBr enhanced the ionic conductivity up to 1.68 × 10−4 S/cm by significantly reducing the grain boundaries without high-temperature sintering. Results suggested the suitability of LiBr mixed ternary composites as a favorite candidate for lithium batteries in terms of safety, stability, and high ionic conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doping of superfast ionic conductors like NASICON has been shown to boost ionic conductivity and the efficiency of lithium batteries. NASICON‐type yttrium and silicon‐doped lithium aluminum titanium phosphate (LATP) solid electrolytes have been synthesized via the conventional solid‐state method at different sintering temperatures. Their intrinsic physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties are analyzed using x‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Yttrium and silicon co‐doped LATP (LAYTSP) powder sintered at 900°C exhibits homogeneous hexagonal morphology and better crystallinity than the pure LATP solid electrolyte synthesized by the same methodology. LAYSTP demonstrated a higher ionic conductivity of 5.98 × 10−6 S/cm at ambient conditions. Mixing 5%‐LiCl with LAYTSP‐900°C improved the ionic conductivity significantly up to 1.88 × 10−4 S/cm. Cell viability testing demonstrated that our cells exhibit long‐term stability and are suitable for applications requiring sustained high voltages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elevated level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the troposphere is playing a crucial role in changing the earth's climatic system. Excess CO2 concentration is trapping a substantial proportion of heat imparting adverse range of environmental effects like extreme weather events, agricultural impacts and disruption of the ecosystem. Strategies such as CO2 capturing and storage are being pursued using polyoxometalates (POMs) to mitigate the elevated level of CO2 and their efficient conversion into useful chemicals. This review outlines the importance of CO2 reduction by electrocatalytic and photocatalytic reduction of CO2. POMs have several advantages for CO2 activation because of their promising catalytic activity, high selectivity and versatility for incorporating different metal ions and ligands. The efficient redox active metal center facilitates the conversion of CO2 by providing sufficient activation energy. Their robust structure also enables them resist harsh conditions, including high temperature and acidic or basic conditions. Owing to these properties, POMs can be a catalyst, co‐catalyst, photosensitizer or multielectron donor for CO2 reduction. Finally, we stated the challenges and future insight for CO2 activation using POMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study concerned with expression and biochemical characterization of lipase enzyme for potential use in detergent formulation. Lipase gene (1242 bp) of Bacillus thuringensis was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 strain using pET‐21a(+) expression vector. Maximum expression of cloned lipase gene was obtained at 37°C with an induction of 0.4 mM IPTG (Isopropyl ß‐D‐1‐thiogalactopyranoside) after 4 h of induction. Recombinant lipase was purified to homogeneity using immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography carrying 109.80 U/mg specific activity with 38.79 purification folds. Molecular mass of purified lipase was determined as 45 kDa using sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Purified recombinant lipase showed stability up to 90°C and retained significant activity (52%) after 4 h at 90°C. It was also found to be stable at a wide range of pH and in the presence of higher concentrations of several inhibitors (sodium dodecyl sulfate, dimethylsulfoxide, sodium azide, β‐mercaptoethanol, polysorbate 80, dithiothreitol) as well as organic solvents (acetone, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n‐butanol). The activity of recombinant lipase was enhanced in the presence of various metal ions and activated up to 200% by Ca2+. The compatibility of recombinant lipase with commercial detergents and other additives as well as its broad substrate specificity endorse the potential application of this enzyme in detergent formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis (HS). Because dietary essential amino acid (EAA) supplementation has been shown to decrease HS in various populations, this study's objective was to determine whether supplementation would decrease HS in PCOS. Methods: A randomized, double‐blind, crossover, placebo‐controlled trial was conducted in 21 adolescents with PCOS (BMI 37.3 ± 6.5 kg/m2, age 15.6 ± 1.3 years). Liver fat, very low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL) lipogenesis, and triacylglycerol (TG) metabolism were measured following each 28‐day phase of placebo or EAA. Results: Compared to placebo, EAA was associated with no difference in body weight (p = 0.673). Two markers of liver health improved: HS was lower (−0.8% absolute, −7.5% relative reduction, p = 0.013), as was plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (−8%, p = 0.004). Plasma TG (−9%, p = 0.015) and VLDL‐TG (−21%, p = 0.031) were reduced as well. VLDL‐TG palmitate derived from lipogenesis was not different between the phases, nor was insulin sensitivity (p > 0.400 for both). Surprisingly, during the EAA phase, participants reported consuming fewer carbohydrates (p = 0.038) and total sugars (p = 0.046). Conclusions: Similar to studies in older adults, short‐term EAA supplementation in adolescents resulted in significantly lower liver fat, AST, and plasma lipids and thus may prove to be an effective treatment in this population. Additional research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms for these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nexus between manufacturing firms and the green environment is unavoidable. It is merely due to the huge waste generation and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from large‐scale production and complex supply chain management processes involved in manufacturing firms. Continuation of the traditional business practices during Industry 4.0 made it impossible for the manufacturing firm to commit to green environmental practices and comply with environmental SDGs. At odd, it requires novel business strategies to ensure compliance of manufacturing firms with environmental sustainable development goals (SDGs). Blockchain is an ideal technology for delivering green environmental‐related information because it offers real‐time, shareable, and entirely transparent data kept on an immutable ledger that is accessible to members of a network. These green environmental‐related information received in real‐time through blockchain technology help in the transformation of the traditional supply chain management practices into a more green supply chain management practice. This green transformation ensures business compliance with environmental SDGs and that compliance is shared with multiple stakeholders through blockchain technology in real‐time, thus approving a positive mediating role of green supply chain management practices between blockchain technology and environmental SDGs performance. The proposed strategic framework through various propositions development will mainly offer policy insights toward (a) identifying novel antecedents of blockchain technology, (b) offering insights toward upgrading the traditional supply chain management framework into a green supply chain management framework, and (c) illuminating novel mediating role of green supply chain management practices between blockchain technology and environmental SDGs performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research mainly aims to test the impact of green human resource management (GHRM) on environmental performance (EP) and to determine whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) mediates the relationship between GHRM and EP and whether organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) moderates the relationships between CSR and EP. The paper relied on a quantitative research approach with a sample of 204 employees from the pollutant industries of Pakistan. In this paper, the partial least square approach (PLS‐SEM) was employed to verify the proposed hypotheses. The outcomes confirmed that GHRM has a positive impact on EP. Additionally, the findings indicated that CSR affected EP. It was also revealed that CSR fully mediates the linkages between GHRM and EP. This paper acknowledges the existing gaps in the prior literature and enables us to clearly understand the significance of GHRM in affecting EP via CSR as a mediator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental concerns are pressing nations worldwide to embrace greener and sustainable practices in every field. However, the existence of old unplanned cities devoid of greenery and rapid rates of urbanization are becoming a major source of pollution and a constant thorn in the sight of a sustainable future. To deal with these problems, different types of green infrastructures (GI) are introduced in developed nations. Nevertheless, these infrastructures require proper planning and economic investments for implementation, which is a huge hindrance to their adoption in developing countries. Therefore, this study aims to plan and analyze the impact of GI on the environment and the economy if it is introduced in a developing country like Pakistan. Geographic information system is used to analyze the current level of greenery and plan the installation of a new GI in one of the major cities of Pakistan. Furthermore, the reduction in carbon emissions, the environmental and economic benefits of different types of GI are measured and compared with the cost of implementation using techno‐economic analysis. Finally, the payback period and internal rate of return are calculated to check the return of the initial investment. The results show that the economic and environmental benefits of GI surpass the cost of installation by a great margin. Therefore, GI can be a feasible option for sustainable development in other developing countries. The economic and environmental analysis on the practical case study of a developing country like Pakistan are the prime novelties of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of Health Things (IoHT) has grown in importance for developing medical applications with the support of wireless communication systems. IoHT is integrated with many sensors to capture the patients' records and transmits them to hospital centres for analysis and reporting. Controlling and managing health records has been addressed in several ways, however, it is noted that two key research problems for vital communication systems are reliability and reducing data loss. To enhance the sustainability of health applications and effectively use the network infrastructure when transferring sensitive data, this research provides a machine learning approach. Moreover, data collected from the IoHTs are protected and can be securely received for physical process in hospitals using authentication trees. Firstly, the undirected graphs are explored based on the multi‐parametric machine learning approach to minimize the computation overheads and traffic congestion. Secondly, it evaluates the nodes' level behaviour over the heterogeneous traffic load with efficient identification of redundant links. Finally, in‐depth analysis and simulation results have shown that the proposed protocol is more effective than existing approaches for data accuracy and security analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to inquire whether it is the mere female directors or their certain attributes that improve the quality of corporate sustainability disclosures (QCSD). Annual and sustainability reports are used to obtain data for 300 non‐financial Pakistani listed companies selected through stratified random sampling for the period 2012–2021. The study employed ordinary least squares with panel‐corrected standard errors to test research hypotheses. The findings that neither support "tokenism" nor "critical mass" assumptions revealed that firms with female directors on the board, regardless of how many, have better QCSD than others. Similarly, the proportion of female directors on the board and audit committee also showed a positive association with QCSD. The positive role of independent female directors and their experience was slightly more pronounced than the executive female directors and their experience in improving QCSD. Likewise, the positive effect of female directors' business‐related education was marginally higher than their non‐business education in improving QCSD. Furthermore, female directors' master's or above level of education had a significant positive, while their bachelor's or below level of education had no significant association with QCSD. The study offers several theoretical and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bursa of Fabricius (BOF) is a unique immune organ of birds. It is the place where lymphocytes develop, differentiate and mature. Young chicken BOF is susceptible to infection and damage, and even atrophy, causing immune suppression, and bringing huge economic losses to chicken production. Therefore, studying the regulatory mechanism of chicken bursa development is of great practical significance for disease prevention and diagnosis. Jinhu silky chicken (JSC) is a local excellent breed in the Fujian Province of China and with strong disease resistance. However, studies on the disease resistance of JSC are scarce. This study aimed to provide a theoretical basis for reproduction and disease control of JSC. Developmental features of the structure and the IL‐21‐positive cell (IL‐21 PC) distribution on the BOF in JSC were measured from 7 to 300 days of age. Bursas of chicken (n = 36) were taken at 7, 35, 70, 150, 240, and 300 days of age for preparation of paraffin sections and stained with hematoxylin–eosin (HE) and immunohistochemistry. The microstructure of JSC's BOF was similar to that of other poultry. The cortical‐medullary boundary of the bursa nodule was not obvious at 7 days of age, but it was evident after 35 days of age. Before 70 days of age, IL‐21 positive cells (PC) were scattered on the BOF. At 150 days of age, the number of IL‐21 PC in the bursa were the highest and the nuclei were clear. The level of IL‐21 PC gradually decreased with age. The BOF degenerated and disappeared in 300‐day‐old JSC. The histological structure of the BOF was similar to that of other poultry. IL‐21 PC were widespread in the BOF at different ages, but the numbers were different. Research Highlights: Young chicken bursa of Fabricius (BOF) is susceptible to infection bringing huge economic losses to chicken production.Jinhu silky chicken (JSC) is a local excellent breed of China, but there are limited studies on the disease resistance of JSC.Developmental features and the IL‐21 positive cell distribution on the BOF in JSC were measured from 7 to 300 days of age.This study provided a theoretical basis for reproduction and disease control of JSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development in perovskite solar cell (PSC), high efficiency has been achieved, but the long‐term operational stability is still the most important challenges for the commercialization of this emerging photovoltaic technology. So far, bi‐dopants lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)‐imide (Li‐TFSI)/4‐tert‐butylpyridine (t‐BP)‐doped hole‐transporting materials (HTM) have led to state‐of‐the art efficiency in PSCs. However, such dopants have several drawbacks in terms of stability, including the complex oxidation process, undesirable ion migration and ultra‐hygroscopic nature. Herein, a fluorine‐containing organic Lewis acid dopant bis(pentafluorophenyl)zinc (Zn‐FP) with hydrophobic property and high migration barrier has been employed as a potential alternative to widely employed bi‐dopants Li‐TFSI/t‐BP for poly[bis(4‐phenyl)(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)amine] (PTAA). The resulting Zn‐FP‐based PSCs achieve a maximum PCE of 20.34 % with hysteresis‐free current density‐voltage (J‐V) scans. Specifically, the unencapsulated device exhibits a significantly advanced of operational stability under the International Summit on Organic Photovoltaic Stability protocols (ISOS−L‐1), maintaining over 90 % of the original efficiency after operation for 1000 h under continuous 1‐sun equivalent illumination in N2 atmosphere in both forward and reverse J‐V scan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Internet of underwater things (IoUT) for underwater monitoring is known worldwide for smart interlinked underwater things that exhibit the capacity to monitor the vast unexplored waters of the oceans. Concept of IoUT has been derived from Internet of Things (IoT) in order to acquire the exquisite benefits of networking in underwater environment. IOT standards and technologies do not work well in underwater environment, such as infrared, Wi‐Fi, and radio frequency (RF) due to high channel errors and limited range up to few meters. Acoustic waves, however, can be used to communicate both in shallow and deep oceans due to their low frequency (kHZ) signal. In context of IoUT, communication based on acoustic links enables different applications such as underwater exploration, environmental monitoring, and disaster prevention even without availability of GPS facility like free space environment. In unpredictable and changing underwater environment, energy efficiency becomes a major challenge during data routing along multiple devices. Batteries of the sensor nodes, autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) cannot be removed with easiness and difficult to recharge, and the only way out is efficient sensor node selection for relaying to save massive amount of energy. Energy aware channel routing protocol (ECARP) does not consider the depth of the node while selecting the relay nodes to forward the data. Relay node selection in underwater Internet of things (IOUT) is a primary problem addressed in this research based on channel state information (CSI) for establishing best path to relay information among IOUT devices. Our major focus was to develop better technique for the relay node selection using a CSI and select relay node by looking at its depth from ocean surface and residual energy in the proposed ED‐CARP. Simulation results validate that proposed ED‐CARP can decrease the communication cost and increase the network lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic esters have long been used in a variety of applications due to their excellent thermal stability, excellent cleanliness, natural lubricity, and polarity. In the present work, we aimed to prepare some synthetic base oils through preparation of different dibasic esters by esterification of dicarboxylic acids (adipic acid and azelaic acid) with different linear alcohols (hexanol, octanol, and decanol) and branched alcohol (2‐ethyl hexanol) at 120°C. The reaction yield ranges between 85% and 94%. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR) spectroscopy were used to analyze the structures of the produced compounds. Using thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), the heat stability of the produced esters was determined, and it was found that the prepared esters have high thermal stability. The degradation of the prepared esters takes place in the range between 300 and 600°C. The rheological behaviour of prepared esters shows Newtonian behaviours, which means that Newtonian fluids obey viscosity Newton's law. The viscosity is independent of the shear rate. The results showed that the lubricity properties, based on their pour point, flash point, and oxidation stability of the esters, were significantly affected by the linear and branched alcohols used. There is a slight increase in kinematic viscosity and viscosity index values with decreasing the internal chain length of the dibasic acid. The esters which were based on adipic acid such as C1 exhibited maximum values of VI: 187 compared to those which were based on azelaic acid such as F1 with VI: 182. Viscosity and viscosity index increases with increasing the number of carbon atoms of the used mono‐ol alcohols. Using branched alcohols gave almost the same viscosity results compared to using linear alcohol with the same number of carbons. Almost all prepared esters give pour point results ≤ −30°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the role of thermal tolerances in determining species distributions is important for assessing species responses to climate change. Two hypotheses linking physiology with species distributions have been put forward—the climatic variability hypothesis and the climatic extreme hypothesis. The climatic variability hypothesis predicts the selection of individuals with broad thermal tolerance in more variable climatic conditions and the climatic extreme hypothesis predicts the selection of individuals with extreme thermal tolerance values under extreme climatic conditions. However, no study has tested the predictions of these hypotheses simultaneously for several taxonomic groups along elevational gradients.Here, we related experimentally measured critical thermal maxima, critical thermal minima and thermal tolerance breadths for 15,187 individuals belonging to 116 species of ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders from mountain ranges in central and northern Pakistan to the limits and breadths of their geographic and temperature range.Across all species and taxonomic groups, we found strong relationships between thermal traits and elevational distributions both in terms of geography and temperature. The relationships were robust when repeating the analyses for ants, grasshoppers, and spiders but not for beetles. These results indicate a strong role of physiology in determining elevational distributions of arthropods in Southern Asia.Overall, we found strong support for the climatic variability hypothesis and the climatic extreme hypothesis. A close association between species' distributional limits and their thermal tolerances suggest that in case of a failure to adapt or acclimate to novel climatic conditions, species may be under pressure to track their preferred climatic conditions, potentially facing serious consequences under current and future climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In July 2022, two Risso's dolphins were reported stranded in Hrútafjörður (N65° 09,503; W21° 05,529), a fjord in northern Iceland. These events represent the first confirmed observations and strandings of Risso's dolphins in Icelandic waters. Given the uniqueness of these events, a decision was made to conduct full necropsies on these individuals. This study reports findings from viral and parasitological investigations, morphological and fitness measurements, as well as stomach and intestine content analysis for each of the Risso's dolphin specimens. The results of the necropsies do not suggest any other cause of death than lack of food and exhaustion. A large plastic fragment in one individual's stomach supports these suggestions. The presence of those specimens in the middle of the subarctic ocean illustrates ongoing changes in spatial distribution expanding northward, impacting not only Risso's dolphins but more generally marine life and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have introduced some new similarity measures for q‐rung orthopair fuzzy sets and discussed their various features. These similarity measures have been constructed with the help of t‐conorms. The suggested similarity measures are more effective than the available ones in computing the similarity between distinct q‐rung orthopair fuzzy sets. With the help of these suggested similarity measures, we have also developed some novel entropy measures for q‐rung orthopair fuzzy sets. The newly proposed entropy measures are more effective than the existing ones in handling linguistic hedges. The applicability of the suggested similarity measures has been demonstrated in pattern analysis and the findings have been found to be better than due to existing ones. The traditional decision‐making method namely, the technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution gives us a compromise solution that is either closest to the positive ideal solution and farthest from the negative ideal solution but not both. So, to overcome this major drawback, we suggest a novel multi‐attribute decision‐making method in the q‐rung orthopair fuzzy environment and apply it to a decision‐making problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral nerve injuries are one of those complex medical conditions for which a highly effective first‐line treatment is currently missing. The use of natural compound as medicines to treat various disorders has a long history. Our previous research explored that crude Cannabis sativa L. accelerated the recovery of sensorimotor functions following nerve injury. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of n‐Hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of C. sativa L. leaves on the muscle function restoration in a mouse model after sciatic nerve injury. For this purpose, albino mice (n = 18) were equally divided into control and two treatment groups. The control group was fed on a plain diet while treatment groups were given a diet having n‐Hexane (treatment 1) and ethyl acetate (treatment 2) extracts of C. sativa L. (10 mg/kg body weight), respectively. The hot plate test (M = 15.61, SD = 2.61, p =.001), grip strength (M = 68.32, SD = 3.22, p <.001), and sciatic functional index (SFI) (M = 11.59, SD = 6.54, p =.012) assessment indicated significant amelioration in treatment 1 as compared to treatment 2 group. Furthermore, muscle fiber cross‐sectional area revealed a noticeable improvement (M = 182,319, SD = 35.80, p =.013) in treatment 1 while muscle mass ratio of Gastrocnemius (M = 0.64, SD = 0.08, p =.427) and Tibialis anterior (M = 0.57, SD = 0.04, p =.209) indicated nonsignificant change. A prominent increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (M = 3.76, SD = 0.38, p <.001) and momentous decrease in total oxidant status (TOS) (M = 11.28, SD = 5.71, p <.001) along with blood glucose level indicated significant difference (M = 105.5, SD = 9.12, p < 0.001) in treatment 1 group. These results suggest that treatment 1 has the ability to speed up functional recovery after a peripheral nerve lesion. Further research is necessary, nevertheless, to better understand the extract's actual curative properties and the mechanisms that improve functional restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how numerous contingencies work together to influence the organizational structure of privately held businesses in China. This study is using a cross‐section primary data set from 83 private firms listed in China. The data are gathered by face‐to‐face interviews with entrepreneurs, and six hypotheses tests are performed regarding the contingencies of organizational form. Furthermore, the empirical findings indicate that environment, strategy, size, and technology play a significant role in explaining organizational form. Finally, financial factors are important aspects of the business environment, notably in dealing with cash flow problems and in forming profit expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming and greenhouse gas emissions pose severe threats to environmental sustainability. A sustainable environment is a prerequisite for long‐term socioeconomic growth and human survival. Green technology is brought about by a country's economic and financial openness, and education provides knowledge to the public and labor, contributing to environmental sustainability. Thus, this research aims to unveil the liaison between human capital, trade openness, and environmental quality for Russia, Brazil, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) countries from 1998 to 2018. Several econometric methods, including the Driscoll–Kraay standard errors and the Dumitrescu–Hurlin causality approaches, reveal long‐run and causal relationships among the modelled indicators. The Driscoll–Kraay standard error results show that human capital is negatively related to carbon dioxide emissions (CO2 emissions). Imposing high tariffs and excise duties, changing tax structures, discouraging the inflow of polluted commodities, and encouraging green trade can help BRICS combat high environmental pollution. The results show that a one‐point increase in human capital in models 1 and 2 can reduce CO2 emissions by 1.5279 and 0.1538 points, respectively. In contrast, a 1% growth in trade can lead to a rise in CO2 emissions of 0.3731% and 0.2384%, respectively. Similarly, financial development and energy consumption result in high CO2 emissions in the long run. Moreover, a feedback effect of the human capital index on CO2 emissions is discovered. As a result of the findings, the government and responsible authorities should provide financial support and encourage investments in the region's energy‐resourceful and sustainable green projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are chronic inflammatory diseases associated with a higher risk of cardiometabolic comorbidities compared to the general population. Individual studies examining mortality in these patients have produced conflicting results. The present study was undertaken to perform a systematic review and meta‐analysis to analyze the all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality in PsA and AS from the available literature. Methods: A comprehensive database search was performed for studies reporting all‐cause or cause‐specific mortality in patients with PsA and AS compared with the general population. Pooled relative risks (RRs) were calculated using a random‐effects model. Results: We included 19 studies (11 of PsA, 7 of AS, 1 of both). In PsA studies, there was no increased mortality compared to the general population (RR 1.12 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.96–1.30]; n = 10 studies). We found a higher all‐cause mortality in female (RR 1.19 [95% CI 1.04–1.36]) but not in male (RR 1.02 [95% CI 0.66–1.59]) PsA patients. Cardiovascular‐, respiratory‐, and infection‐specific mortality risks were significantly higher for PsA patients (RR 1.21 [95% CI 1.06–1.38], RR 3.37 [95% CI 1.30–8.72], and RR 2.43 [95% CI 1.01–5.84], respectively), but not cancer‐related mortality (RR 1.01 [95% CI 0.91–1.11]). In AS, we found a higher risk of death from all causes (RR 1.64 [95% CI 1.49–1.80]; n = 6 studies) and cardiovascular causes (RR 1.35 [95% CI 1.01–1.81]; n = 3 studies) compared to the general population. All‐cause mortality was high in both male (RR 1.56 [95% CI 1.43–1.71]) and female (RR 1.85 [95% CI 1.56–2.18]) AS patients. The included AS studies did not report mortality data for non‐cardiovascular causes. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta‐analysis showed a significantly increased risk of overall mortality in AS but not PsA. Cardiovascular‐specific mortality was higher for both PsA and AS, which emphasizes the importance of early screening and management of cardiovascular risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: This report described the pathophysiology, diagnostic workup, and management of thrombosis possibly associated with peripheral blood eosinophilia and transient positive antiphospholipid antibodies in the setting of cellulitis. Peripheral blood eosinophilia is a risk factor for thrombosis and the presence of other prothrombotic factors such as antiphospholipid antibodies can potentiate that risk. The authors present a case of acute pulmonary embolism which developed at the peak of eosinophilia, later found to have transient positive antiphospholipid antibodies in a male patient with right lower limb cellulitis and a history of intravenous drug abuse. This report illustrates the pathophysiology, diagnosis workup, and therapeutic options of thrombosis possibly associated with peripheral blood eosinophilia and positive antiphospholipid antibodies, which include anticoagulants, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants. Clinicians should be aware of this possible association which may guide the choice and duration of anticoagulants. Although direct oral anticoagulants are effective anticoagulants in various thromboembolic events, studies showed unfavorable outcomes for their use in antiphospholipid syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the impact of eco‐friendly technology on environmental degradation indicated using the load capacity factor (LCF) with the framework of the Load Capacity Curve (LCC) hypothesis. In this regard, an environmental degradation function is formed and analyzed using the Augmented Autoregressive Distributed Lag (AARDL) approach during the period spanning from 1975 to 2021 for India. The outcome indicates that eco‐friendly technology reduces the LCF, thereby fostering environmental degradation in the long run, but the relationship is not significant in the short run. Further, an N‐shaped LCC hypothesis has been observed in both long and short runs. Besides, energy consumption exhibits a LCF reducing or environmental degradation boosting role in the short run and long run. These findings are consistent with other models that are used to check the robustness of AARDL‐based results. Thus, the study recommends policies for promoting eco‐friendly technology, judicious economic growth, and cautious energy consumption to attain sustainable development by increasing the LCF in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Inflammatory mediators are associated with many chronic diseases; however, their role in metabolic syndrome (Met-S) is not well documented. We therefore aimed to compare the serum markers of inflammation including C-reactive protein (CRP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and TNF-β in young military recruits with and without Met-S. We hypothesized that any significant change in inflammatory markers between the two groups would indicate the role of inflammation in Met-S that would help in future directions for screening and treatment of Met-S. Design and Methods. A total of 2010 adult men, aged 18-30 years, were divided into two groups: with Met-S (N = 488) and without Met-S (N = 1522), according to the International Diabetes Federation definition. We compared the serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers between the two groups. We also studied the correlations between the inflammatory markers and the components of Met-S to explore the biomarker potential of inflammatory markers for screening of Met-S. Logistic regression analysis was performed to test the association between inflammatory markers and Met-S. Results. A large number of subjects in the Met-S group were suffering from obesity. Out of the 2010 total subjects, only 731 (36.4%) had normal fasting blood sugar (FBS), while the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes was significantly higher in subjects with Met-S. We observed significant increases in serum levels of CRP, MPO, IL-6, and TNF-β but not TNF-α in subjects with Met-S as compared to subjects without Met-S. All the markers of inflammation showed significant correlations with Met-S, triglycerides (TG), blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and age; however, none of these markers were correlated with HDL. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between Met-S and inflammatory markers. Conclusions. Serum levels of CRP, MPO, IL-6, and TNF-β are significantly increased in young adults with Met-S. This is probably the first study reporting TNF-β levels in Met-S. Since a proinflammatory cascade precedes many years before the onset of cardiovascular disease, these inflammatory biomarkers could help in the monitoring of high-risk individuals with Met-S who will be requiring therapeutic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive desmoplasia and poor vasculature renders pancreatic tumors severely hypoxic, contributing to their aggressiveness and therapy resistance. Here, we identify the HuR/MYB/HIF1α axis as a critical regulator of the metabolic plasticity and hypoxic survival of pancreatic cancer cells. HuR undergoes nuclear‐to‐cytoplasmic translocation under hypoxia and stabilizes MYB transcripts, while MYB transcriptionally upregulates HIF1α. Upon MYB silencing, pancreatic cancer cells fail to survive and adapt metabolically under hypoxia, despite forced overexpression of HIF1α. MYB induces the transcription of several HIF1α‐regulated glycolytic genes by directly binding to their promoters, thus enhancing the recruitment of HIF1α to hypoxia‐responsive elements through its interaction with p300‐dependent histone acetylation. MYB‐depleted pancreatic cancer cells exhibit a dramatic reduction in tumorigenic ability, glucose‐uptake and metabolism in orthotopic mouse model, even after HIF1α restoration. Together, our findings reveal an essential role of MYB in metabolic reprogramming that supports pancreatic cancer cell survival under hypoxia. Synopsis: Tumor cells face hypoxic stress as they evolve, which modulates their behavior and treatment response. MYB supports the hypoxic survival of pancreatic cancer cells by controlling the transcriptional activity of HIF‐1α and metabolic plasticity. HuR undergoes nuclear‐to‐cytoplasmic translocation under hypoxia and stabilizes MYB transcripts.MYB upregulates HIF1α transcription, facilitates its recruitment to promoters, and modulates its transcriptional activity.HIF1α accumulation is not sufficient to support hypoxic survival and metabolic reprogramming of pancreatic cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integrity of the distal alveolar epithelium is crucial for lung regeneration following an injury. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Cinnamomum verum extract; cross‐talk of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and erythropoietin (EPO) genes in a smoke‐induced lung injury rat model. For experimentation (n = 27), albino rats were divided equally into three groups, i.e., negative control (NC), positive control (PC), and treatment group (TG). Cigarette smoke was exposed to PC and TG (4 CG/day). C. verum was given orally (350 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days. Decapitation (n = 3) was done on 14th, 18th, and 21st days, respectively. Analyses (hematology, biochemical, high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC], histology, and gene expression) were carried out and results were statistically analyzed by two‐way analysis of variance. HPLC analysis of ethanolic extract of C. verum was done to identify the presence of phenolic constituents which showed high concentrations of quercetin and P‐coumaric acid. Serum oxidative parameters such as total oxidant status, malondialdehyde, and hematological parameters such as red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and white blood cells were significantly (p <.05) elevated in the PC group; however, these parameters were significantly (p <.05) improved in TG. While total antioxidant capacity and serum parameters such as total protein, albumin, and globulin were significantly (p <.05) reduced in the PC group but significantly improved (p <.05) in TG. Histological analysis revealed that smoke exposure resulted in a measurable increase in alveolar septal thickening while ethanolic extract of C. verum greatly ameliorated the histopathological changes in the lung alveoli. The gene expression analysis of EGF and EPO genes showed a significant upregulation (p <.05) of both genes in PC group while in TG, the level of both genes downregulated, in which lung damage was ameliorated due to cytoprotective effects of ethanolic extract of C. verum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a numerical analysis of conjugate heat transfer in an annular channel with turbulence models for supercritical CO2 (tube side) and Pb‐Bi (annular side) as working fluids to understand the impact of flow constraints and heat transfer. By using the Navier‐Stokes formulation and the energy equation clarifying concurrent flow buildup and conjugate heat transmittance in tubes, several turbulent Prandtl models were solved numerically. The turbulent Prandtl number Prt of Pb‐Bi was used to refine the consistency of the arithmetical simulation. By comparing Prt, temperature fluctuation, and heat flux density, it was concluded that the existing Prt model should be used with caution in the numerical calculation of liquid metals having low Pr. The heat transfer and flow phenomena at different Prt values are significantly different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs input‐output analysis to determine the extent of structural changes in the Indian economy, as well as how economic sector linkages changed between 2000 and 2019, and identifies the sectors with profound linkages with other sectors. Furthermore, we use the causative matrix to examine the temporal changes in intersectoral interactions. The analysis shows that manufacturing sectors have stronger intersectoral linkages than sevice sectors, with resource‐intensive and scale‐intensive manufacturing sectors having the most profound linkages. Furthermore, the causative matrix analysis reveals that Indian sectors became more externalized following the global financial crises, while receiving less feedback from other sectors. The results suggest that intersectoral linkages should be taken into account when designing industrial policies, and that investment should be encouraged in India's key economic sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]