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Doping of suitable metal ions in ferroelectric oxides modifies the physical properties and can induce additional functionalities. Here, we present a detailed study on the effects of Sm concentration on the structural, dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of ((K0.5Na0.5)1−3xSmx)NbO3 (KNSN) (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.02) ceramics. X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic analysis indicate that KNSN ceramics exhibit the single‐phase orthorhombic (Amm2) structure for x = 0.00 and the coexistence of orthorhombic and tetragonal (Amm2 + P4mm) structure for the composition range 0.005 ≤ x ≤ 0.02. The tetragonal phase fraction increases with an increase in Sm concentration. We observed dielectric relaxation behavior in KNSN at orthorhombic to tetragonal (TO–T) phase transition temperature, and its origin can be attributed to the structural heterogeneity at the inter‐ferroelectric phase boundary. Increasing Sm concentration leads to the broadening of the ferroelectric phase transition peaks. Further, the structural heterogeneity of the ceramics was seen from the slope of the dielectric constant versus log frequency and central peak behavior of Raman spectra at room temperature (RT). The study reveals that x = 0.005 shows maximum dielectric constant (Ɛr = 583), remanent polarization (2Pr = 57.02 μC/cm2), and piezoelectric coefficient (d33 = 94 pC/N) at RT and is associated with increased local structural heterogeneity due to Sm doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Daith piercing is a special ear‐piercing method that punctures the crus of the helix. The penetrated site at the ear's innermost point is assumed to stimulate a pressure point associated with the vagus nerve. It has been reported that the pierced spot relieves migraine and tension‐type headaches by activating vagal afferents, leading to the inhibition of neurons in the caudal trigeminal nucleus via the nucleus tractus solitarii. Objective: The objective of this narrative literature review is to summarize the current state of knowledge concerning daith piercing for the treatment of migraine and tension‐type headaches from the perspectives of the Chinese and Western auricular systems. Methods: PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched using the keywords "daith piercing," "auricular points," "headache," and "acupuncture" from database inception to September 1, 2023. Only studies on humans were eligible; otherwise, no further restrictions were applied to the study designs, type of headache, or patient population of the identified articles. Bibliographies of all eligible studies were screened for further eligible studies. The main outcome of interest was a quantitative measure of pain relief by daith piercing. Secondary outcomes were relapse time of headache and further outcomes related to daith piercing, if available. Results: From a total of 186 identified articles, one retrospective study and three case reports fulfilled the inclusion criteria. No clinical trial was identified. The obtained studies describe patients experiencing chronic headaches undergoing daith piercing without changing or reducing their usual medication. In all case studies and the retrospective study, patients reported substantial reductions in pain immediately after daith piercing; however, headache symptoms recurred several weeks to months thereafter. From the perspective of the Chinese and Western auricular systems, no sufficient explanation for the described treatment effect of daith piercing was found. Conclusion: The available literature, combined with the reported recurrence of pain as well as the associated side effects of daith piercing, indicate that current evidence does not support daith piercing for the treatment of migraine, tension‐type headaches, or other headache disorders. Plain Language Summary: This paper summarizes what we know about Daith piercing (DP) for chronic migraine and tension‐type headache and discusses how DP might work. Current evidence does not support DP as an effective treatment of chronic migraine and tension‐type headache. These findings might assist clinicians in discussing this subject with patients as well as guide future research. Plain Language Summary: This paper summarizes what we know about Daith piercing (DP) for migraine and tension‐type headache and discusses how DP might work. Current evidence does not support DP as an effective treatment of migraine and tension‐type headache. These findings might assist clinicians in discussing this subject with patients as well as guide future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Ba0.955Ca0.045)(Zr0.17Ti0.83)O3 [BCZT] epitaxial were grown on La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO)‐coated (100)‐oriented MgO single crystal substrates by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. Herein, we report crystal structure, ferroelectric, piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), and energy storage properties near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) composition of [Ba0.850Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.90O3] solid solution. Epitaxial growth of the films was confirmed using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) spectra. Room‐temperature Raman spectroscopy confirms perovskite phase of BCZT films. Room‐temperature polarization‐electric field (P‐E) loops confirm the ferroelectric nature of BCZT films. Ferroelectric hysteresis loops demonstrate high saturation polarization (Pmax ~ 97.96 μC/cm2) and remanant polarization (Pr ~ 70.1 μC/cm2) at an applied maximum electric field ~2.77 MV/cm. The optimized BCZT epitaxial thin films have shown moderate dielectric properties at different measured frequencies (10‐100 kHz). Nanoscale piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) images demonstrate switchable ferroelectric polarization of these thin films above ±9 V of dc voltage applied. Energy storage properties measured from ferroelectric loops revealed a high discharge curve energy density ~27.5 J/cm3 at a maximum electric field of 2.77 MV/cm. Epitaxial‐grown BCZT films are suitable candidate materials for capacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies report that few journals are adopting unethical citation practices to inflate Impact Factor (IF) artificially. "Clarivate Analytics" has started to blacklist such journals since 2006. As reported in the literature, evaluation of journals individually, to detect anomalies from vast and dynamically changing citation network is not efficient. The primary purpose of this work is to define a diverse feature set that can identify such cases of extreme outliers and reason them. The sample size is narrowed down using an unsupervised clustering algorithm in the absence of a labeled training dataset. Next, time‐series IF data is analyzed to detect point outliers. Furthermore, microscopic features are identified to reason them. Results reflected from the F‐value after ANOVA analysis reveals that geometrical patterns (self‐loop, pairwise and group mutual‐citation) among journals, an abrupt increase in the paper count of donor and corresponding IF inflation of recipient are some of the essential features. Microscopic features include social factor (calculation of revised IF after removing directed self or mutual‐citation), impact of the field of study, impact of publication house and author factor that includes author self and mutual‐citation. The significance of this work is to ensure that the quality of a journal is withheld without compromising research integrity by controlling or auditing individual features periodically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary, glioblastoma, and secondary brain tumors, from metastases outside the brain, are among the most aggressive and therapeutically resistant cancers. A physiological barrier protecting the brain, the blood–brain barrier (BBB), functions as a deterrent to effective therapies. To enhance cancer therapy, we developed a cancer terminator virus (CTV), a unique tropism‐modified adenovirus consisting of serotype 3 fiber knob on an otherwise Ad5 capsid that replicates in a cancer‐selective manner and simultaneously produces a potent therapeutic cytokine, melanoma differentiation‐associated gene‐7/interleukin‐24 (MDA‐7/IL‐24). A limitation of the CTV and most other viruses, including adenoviruses, is an inability to deliver systemically to treat brain tumors because of the BBB, nonspecific virus trapping, and immune clearance. These obstacles to effective viral therapy of brain cancer have now been overcome using focused ultrasound with a dual microbubble treatment, the focused ultrasound‐double microbubble (FUS‐DMB) approach. Proof‐of‐principle is now provided indicating that the BBB can be safely and transiently opened, and the CTV can then be administered in a second set of complement‐treated microbubbles and released in the brain using focused ultrasound. Moreover, the FUS‐DMB can be used to deliver the CTV multiple times in animals with glioblastoma  growing in their brain thereby resulting in a further enhancement in survival. This strategy permits efficient therapy of primary and secondary brain tumors enhancing animal survival without promoting harmful toxic or behavioral side effects. Additionally, when combined with a standard of care therapy, Temozolomide, a further increase in survival is achieved. The FUS‐DMB approach with the CTV highlights a noninvasive strategy to treat brain cancers without surgery. This innovative delivery scheme combined with the therapeutic efficacy of the CTV provides a novel potential translational therapeutic approach for brain cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colorimetric analysis of food has gained much popularity in the last few decades. The present study reports the development of a low‐cost food color quality testing and process monitoring system. The proposed device consists of a hardware and a software (Color Magic) combination, which may allow the hardware to be used either for quality testing or process monitoring applications. In the quality‐testing mode, the software captures the image of the food products through the imaging system. Subsequently, the software processes the acquired image and computes color parameters in RGB (red, green, blue), CIELAB, and HSI (hue, saturation, intensity) color spaces. The software also synthesizes and displays the perceived color information in the display panel. The datalog of the sample color information can be sent to the user. Further, a separate software (Color Process), which is installed in a central server, was developed to implement a wireless star network topology for multi‐node process monitoring. The "Color Process" software allows users to acquire color information from multiple hardware. The software monitors the Hue from all the devices. It alerts the user via email if the Hue is beyond the range in any of the nodes. Finally, the device was tested for quality testing and process monitoring applications using colored placards and apple slices. The implementation of the wireless sensor network (WSN) in designing the multi‐node process monitoring makes the proposed device a unique system. This further would allow the device to be used for process monitoring at multiple remote locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to undulating and complexity of the earth's surface, obtaining the training samples for remote sensing data is time‐consuming and expensive. Therefore, it is highly desirable to design a model that uses as few labelled samples as possible and reducing the computational time. Several active learning (AL) algorithms have been proposed in the literature for the classification of hyperspectral images (HSIs). However, its performance in terms of computational time has not been focused yet. Here, the authors have proposed AL approach based on extreme learning machine (ELM) that effectively decreases the computational time while maintaining the classification accuracy. Further, the effectiveness of the proposed approach has been depicted by comparing its performance with state‐of‐the‐art AL algorithms in terms of classification accuracy and computational time as well. The ELM‐based AL with different query strategies were conducted on two HSI data sets. The proposed approach achieves the classification accuracy up to 90% which is comparable to support vector machine‐based AL approach but effectively reduces the computational time significantly by 1000 times. Thus, the proposed system shows the encouraging results with adequate classification accuracy while reducing the computation time drastically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Chlamydial infections are recognised as causative agent of epitheliocystis, reported from over 90 fish species. In the present study, the farmed striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (14–15 cm, 70–90 g) with a history of cumulative mortality of about 23% during June and July 2015, were brought to the laboratory. The histopathological examination of gills from the affected fish revealed presence of granular basophilic intracellular inclusions, mostly at the base of the interlamellar region and in gill filaments. A concurrent infection with Trichodina spp., Ichthyobodo spp. and Dactylogyrus spp. was observed in the gills. The presence of chlamydial DNA in the gills of affected fish was confirmed by amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. BLAST‐n analysis of these amplicons revealed maximum similarity (96%) with Candidatus Actinochlamydia clariae. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, it was inferred that the epitheliocystis agents from striped catfish were novel and belonged to the taxon Ca. Actinochlamydia. It is proposed that epitheliocystis agents from striped catfish will be named as Ca. Actinochlamydia pangasiae. The 16S rRNA gene amplicons from novel chlamydiae were labelled and linked to inclusions by in situ hybridisation. This is the first report of epitheliocystis from India in a new fish host P. hypophthalmus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current paper, we have prepared Cu0.66‐xZn0.34+xSe materials by varying the concentration of copper and zinc (x=0, 0.085, 0.17, 0.255, 0.34) with the help of a facile one‐step hydrothermal method. The X‐ray diffraction study reveals that the as‐prepared nanomaterials show the polycrystalline property. The crystallinity increases with the variation of Zn concentration, and the average crystallite size was calculated in the 39 to 55 nm range. The morphological analysis shows the uniform and agglomerated particles having an average size of around 596 nm. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction study reveal the crystalline phases of the prepared sample. The energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis confirmed the presence of constituent elements in the sample. The sample shows a high optical bandgap in the range of 3.6 eV to 4.09 eV, which was calculated from absorbance spectra. Photoluminescence measurements of the samples were carried out with 532 nm laser excitation, where the defect‐related emission peaks in the 540–850 nm range are observed. A change in the bandgap and optical emission is observed for different compositions. The magnetic properties analysis through the vibrating sample magnetometer reveals that the prepared sample exhibits ferromagnetic behaviour at room temperature, which can be used in magnetic storage applications. The tuning of the optical properties of the samples by varying the copper and zinc concentrations will be useful for various photonic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study considers the problem of designing a multi-input and multi-output (MIMO) proportional-integralderivative (PID) controller via direct optimal or suboptimal linear quadratic regulator (LQR) approach. To design the controller, first the MIMO PID design problem is transformed into a state feedback control and then the gains of the state feedback controller are chosen through an optimal or suboptimal LQR design. Given a minimal state space representation (A,B,C) of the plant, a necessary and sufficient condition (based on matrices A,C) for which the optimal problem (i.e. PID design via optimal LQR) is solvable is obtained. When this optimal problem is not solvable, a suboptimal solution (i.e. PID design via suboptimal LQR), if exists, is obtained by converting the problem into trace minimisation one, which is solved using linear matrix inequality-based method. Suitable examples are considered to illustrate the approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study considers the problem of designing a multi‐input and multi‐output (MIMO) proportional‐integral‐derivative (PID) controller via direct optimal or suboptimal linear quadratic regulator (LQR) approach. To design the controller, first the MIMO PID design problem is transformed into a state feedback control and then the gains of the state feedback controller are chosen through an optimal or suboptimal LQR design. Given a minimal state space representation (A, B, C) of the plant, a necessary and sufficient condition (based on matrices A, C) for which the optimal problem (i.e. PID design via optimal LQR) is solvable is obtained. When this optimal problem is not solvable, a suboptimal solution (i.e. PID design via suboptimal LQR), if exists, is obtained by converting the problem into trace minimisation one, which is solved using linear matrix inequality‐based method. Suitable examples are considered to illustrate the approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites were prepared by nonconventional ultrasonic-assisted emulsifier free emulsion polymerization technique with variable percentage of functionalized carbon nanotube. PAN/MWCNT nanocomposites were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-visible) spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The result from UV-visible suggested that the functionalized MWCNT had interfacial interaction with PAN matrices. The surface morphology of functionalized MWCNT and PAN/MWCNT nanocomposites were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electrical properties of PAN/MWCNT nanocomposites were measured and the result indicated that the conductivity increased with increasing concentration of MWCNTs. The oxygen permeability of PAN/MWCNT nanocomposites gradually increased with increase of MWCNT concentration, the result which was in agreement with the vertical alignment ofMWCNT in SEM. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vasomotion refers to spontaneous oscillation of small vessels observed in many microvascular beds. It is an intrinsic phenomenon unrelated to cardiac rhythm or neural and hormonal regulation. Vasomotion is found to be particularly prominent under conditions of metabolic stress. In spite of a significant existent literature on vasomotion, its physiological and pathophysiological roles are not clear. It is thought that modulation of vasomotion by vasoactive substances released by metabolizing tissue plays a role in ensuring optimal delivery of nutrients to the tissue. Vasomotion rhythms exhibit a great variety of temporal patterns from regular oscillations to chaos. The nature of vasomotion rhythm is believed to be significant to its function, with chaotic vasomotion offering several physiological advantages over regular, periodic vasomotion. In this article, we emphasize that vasomotion is best understood as a network phenomenon. When there is a local metabolic demand in tissue, an ideal vascular response should extend beyond local microvasculature, with coordinated changes over multiple vascular segments. Mechanisms of information transfer over a vessel network have been discussed in the literature. The microvascular system may be regarded as a network of dynamic elements, interacting, either over the vascular anatomical network via gap junctions, or physiologically by exchange of vasoactive substances. Drawing analogies with spatiotemporal patterns in neuronal networks of central nervous system, we ask if properties like synchronization/desynchronization of vasomotors have special significance to microcirculation. Thus the contemporary literature throws up a novel view of microcirculation as a network that exhibits complex, spatiotemporal and informational dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Earlier comparisons of cognitive impairment among patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia have found a largely similar profile of deficits, but results have varied between studies. This prompted the current attempt at another such comparison. Methods: Executive functions, memory, IQ, attention–concentration and perceptuomotor function were assessed in 48 bipolar disorder patients with operationally defined euthymia, and compared with 32 schizophrenia patients in remission, and 23 normal controls. Comparisons were re-attempted after controlling for years of schooling and residual affective symptoms. Results: Uncontrolled comparisons indicated that, compared to controls, both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia patients were significantly impaired on different tests of executive function, memory, IQ and perceptuomotor functions. Controlling for years of schooling and residual affective symptoms, however, served to remove most of the differences between patients and controls, apart from some aspects of executive function in schizophrenia and memory impairment in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Patients with schizophrenia consistently performed worse than patients with bipolar disorder, but none of the differences between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were significant. Conclusions: Patients with bipolar disorder exhibit cognitive difficulties that are very similar to schizophrenia in terms of their profile, although patients with schizophrenia may have more severe and widespread impairments. The resemblance in cognitive profiles has important implications for the etiology and treatment of both disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructure characterization and phase transformation kinetics of a high-energy ball-milled and post-annealed stoichiometric (1:1 mol%) m-ZrO2 and amorphous ( a-) SiO2 powder mixture have been investigated by Rietveld analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data. The experimental results reveal that the ball-milling of stoichiometric powder results in the formation of c-ZrO2/ t-PSZ phases only. The ZrSiO4 phase was not found to form even after 30 h of milling. However, an almost stoichiometric ZrSiO4 (commercially known as zircon) phase is found to form even when a sample that was ball-milled for 5 min was post-annealed at 1473 K for 1 h. It appears that the intermediate t-PSZ phase plays an important role in zircon phase formation. The content of ZrSiO4 phase increases very sharply within 15 min of milling and remains almost unchanged after 30 h of ball-milling. It is also found that nanocrystalline zircon particles are almost free from lattice strain. Contamination by an α-Fe2O3 phase from the milling media results in a colour gradient (white to reddish) in the nanocrystalline ZrSiO4 phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microwave dielectric CaZrO3 has been prepared in nanocrystalline form by high-energy ball milling an equimolar powder mixture of CaO and monoclinic (m) ZrO2. The formation of CaZrO3 is noticed in the X-ray diffraction pattern of 2 h ball-milled powder. At the early stage of milling, up to 4 h, the weight fraction of CaZrO3 increases rapidly and then slowly reaches almost the saturation value of ∼73 wt% within 18 h of milling. It is observed that in the course of milling, the weight fraction of c-ZrO3 increases continuously from its starting value, ∼2.5 wt%, to ∼43 wt% within 2 h of milling, and then reduces slowly to its starting value. It seems that the c-ZrO3 phase has been stabilized by CaO and takes part in the formation of CaZrO3 by mechanochemical reaction of nanocrystalline CaO and c-ZrO3 crystallites. However, post-annealing of 2, 6 and 18 h ball-milled samples results in the formation of ∼95 wt% CaZrO3 phase. The formation mechanism, phase transition kinetics, structure and microstructure changes in terms of lattice imperfections and relative phase abundances of individual phases have been estimated from the analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data of unmilled, ball-milled and post-annealed samples by Rietveld powder structure refinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Brassica carinata (BBCC) commonly referred to as Ethiopian mustard is a natural allotetraploid containing the genomes of Brassica nigra (BB) and Brassica oleracea (CC). It is an oilseed crop endemic to the northeastern regions of Africa. Although it is under limited cultivation, B. carinata is valuable as it is resistant/highly tolerant to most of the pathogens affecting widely cultivated Brassica species of the U's triangle. We report a chromosome‐scale genome assembly of B. carinata accession HC20 using long‐read Oxford Nanopore sequencing and Bionano optical maps. The assembly has a scaffold N50 of ~39.8 Mb and covers ~1.11 Gb of the genome. We compared the long‐read genome assemblies of the U's triangle species and found extensive gene collinearity between the diploids and allopolyploids with no evidence of major gene losses. Therefore, B. juncea (AABB), B. napus (AACC), and B. carinata can be regarded as strict allopolyploids. We cataloged the nucleotide‐binding and leucine‐rich repeat immune receptor (NLR) repertoire of B. carinata and, identified 465 NLRs, and compared these with the NLRs in the other Brassica species. We investigated the extent and nature of early‐generation genomic interactions between the constituent genomes of B. carinata and B. juncea in interspecific crosses between the two species. Besides the expected recombination between the constituent B genomes, extensive homoeologous exchanges were observed between the A and C genomes. Interspecific crosses, therefore, can be used for transferring disease resistance from B. carinata to B. juncea and broadening the genetic base of the two allotetraploid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rigorous hybrid-mode analysis based on the mode-matching technique is used for computing the propagation characteristic of a general symmetric coupled shielded dielectric image guide. The validity of the theory is confirmed by comparing the data for a symmetric coupled line as a special case with the reported data available in literature. Then, illustrative numerical results are presented for the coupling characteristics of various cross-sections of dielectric guides for suitable wideband coupler applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eighteen genotypes of Brassica napus were crossed to a cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line of B. napus BO15 carrying B. tournefortu cytoplasm ('tour' cytoplasm). Fourteen genotypes were found to be stable maintainers of the 'tour' CMS. Of the remaining four genotypes, GSL-1 and 'Asahi-natane' were found to be heterozygous and 'Mangun' and 'Yudal' were homozygous for the restorer gene. Analysis of the F[SUB1] and F[SUB2] progenies of (CMS) BO15 × 'Mangun' and (CMS) BO15 × 'Yudal' showed that fertility restoration is controlled by a single dominant gene.The availability of a number of stable maintainer lines and the simple inheritance pattern of fertility restorer gene makes 'tour' CMS a useful system for hybrid seed production in rapeseed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Polima' cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) was transferred to three different genotypes of B. napus i.e. GSL-1, ISN706 and HNS-8 by repeated backcrossing and was found to be completely stable in the nuclear background of synthetic B. napus genotype, ISN706, derived from a cross B. campestris ssp. oleifera var. brown sarson × B. oleracea var. botrytis cv. 'Pusa Katki'. The BC[SUB5] and BC[SUB6] generation lines of ISN706, GSL-1 and HNS-8 with 'Polima' CMS were grown under a range of temperature and photo-period conditions to test their stability. No breakdown in sterility was observed in 'Polima' ISN706 and, therefore, this genotype can be used as a maintainer for hybrid seed production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chloroplast (cp) and mitochondrial (mt) DNA restriction profiles of a cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line of Brassica juncea and its maintainer line were compared and found to be markedly different. Comparison of cpDNA restriction profiles of fifty different species of genus Brassica and some allied genera showed that the cpDNA profiles of CMS lines were similar to that of B. tournefortii for twenty different restriction endonucleases. This CMS system is thus not of spontaneous origin as reported earlier, but is alloplasmic in nature. Comparison of restriction profiles of mtDNA of B. tournefortii and CMS lines revealed some differences which might either be due to changes in DNA pattern during the transfer, or, due to the cytoplasm coming from a B. tournefortii line different from the one used in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-induced polyuria, although common, often goes unrecognized. The purpose of the present study was therefore to investigate the complaints of polyuria, and distress and functional impairment associated with polyuria, in 56 patients with bipolar disorder on long-term lithium treatment. All participants underwent 24-h urine collection, and renal function tests. Polyuria (24-h urine volume > 3 L) was found in 70% of subjects. Unless directly enquired about, polyuria was underreported. Impairment in work and daily routine due to increased urine output/frequency was associated with 24-h urine volumes. Polyuria is a highly prevalent, distressing and impairing side-effect of long-term lithium treatment, requiring due attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compulsivity and loss of behavioral control represent core symptoms in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), substance use disorder (SUD), and internet gaming disorder (IGD). Despite elaborated animal models suggesting that compulsivity is mediated by cortico‐striatal circuits and a growing number of neuroimaging case–control studies, common neurofunctional alterations in these disorders have not been systematically examined. The present activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta‐analysis capitalized on previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies to determine shared neurofunctional alterations among the three disorders. Task‐based fMRI studies of individuals with SUD, OCD, or IGD were obtained. ALE was performed within each disorder. Next, contrast and conjunction meta‐analyses were performed to determine differential and common alterations. Task‐paradigm classes were group according to Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) domains to determine contributions of underlying behavioral domains. One hundred forty‐four articles were included representing data from n = 6897 individuals (SUD = 2418, controls = 2332; IGD = 361, controls = 360; OCD = 715, controls = 711) from case–control studies. Conjunction meta‐analyses revealed shared alterations in the anterior insular cortex between OCD and SUDs. SUD exhibited additionally pronounced dorsal‐striatal alterations compared with both, OCD and IGD. IGD shared frontal, particularly cingulate alterations with all SUDs, while IGD demonstrated pronounced temporal alterations compared with both, SUD and OCD. No robust overlap between IGD and OCD was observed. Across the disorders, neurofunctional alterations were mainly contributed by cognitive systems and positive valence RDoC domains. The present findings indicate that neurofunctional dysregulations in prefrontal regions engaged in regulatory‐control represent shared neurofunctional alterations across substance and behavioral addictions, while shared neurofunctional dysregulations in the anterior insula may mediate compulsivity in substance addiction and OCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Glucosinolate content in the two major oilseed Brassica crops—rapeseed and mustard has been reduced to the globally accepted Canola quality level (<30 μmoles/g of seed dry weight, DW), making the protein‐rich seed meal useful as animal feed. However, the overall lower glucosinolate content in seeds as well as in the other parts of such plants renders them vulnerable to biotic challenges. We report CRISPR/Cas9‐based editing of glucosinolate transporter (GTR) family genes in mustard (Brassica juncea) to develop ideal lines with the desired low seed glucosinolate content (SGC) while maintaining high glucosinolate levels in the other plant parts for uncompromised plant defence. Use of three gRNAs provided highly efficient and precise editing of four BjuGTR1 and six BjuGTR2 homologues leading to a reduction of SGC from 146.09 μmoles/g DW to as low as 6.21 μmoles/g DW. Detailed analysis of the GTR‐edited lines showed higher accumulation and distributional changes of glucosinolates in the foliar parts. However, the changes did not affect the plant defence and yield parameters. When tested against the pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and generalist pest Spodoptera litura, the GTR‐edited lines displayed a defence response at par or better than that of the wild‐type line. The GTR‐edited lines were equivalent to the wild‐type line for various seed yield and seed quality traits. Our results demonstrate that simultaneous editing of multiple GTR1 and GTR2 homologues in mustard can provide the desired low‐seed, high‐leaf glucosinolate lines with an uncompromised defence and yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effect of grain size variation on the pitting corrosion as well as the passivation behavior of the Alloy 600H has been critically assessed by various electrochemical techniques. The grain size modifications have been achieved by a series of thermal and thermo‐mechanical processing. The potentiodynamic polarization study has revealed that the coarse‐grained specimens exhibit higher corrosion and pitting resistance than the fine‐grained ones. This has been attributed to the greater extent of random high‐angle grain boundary (RHAGB) surface area in the fine‐grained specimens, which acted as favorable locations for pit initiation. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) result has indicated the formation of more imperfect (nonstoichiometric) passive layers in fine‐grained specimens due to the predominant presence of high energy and defective RHAGBs surface. Moreover, the Mott–Schottky analysis has revealed that the fine‐grained specimens generate higher defect densities at the interfaces, which leads to passive film instability due to increased mobility of cation interstitial and cation vacancies at the interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During normal operation, power transformer insulation always experiences a temperature gradient along radial direction with respect to core axis. Over time, this gradient creates non‐uniform ageing within cellulosic insulation. Recent development such as Modified Debye Model (MDM) is found to be capable of modelling such non‐uniformity. Owing to non‐uniform ageing, measured tan δ value only provides the average of dielectric loss associated with various regions within the insulation. Researchers have observed tan δ value to be quite high (due to conductive ageing by‐products) in heavily degraded areas such as regions closer to winding. Also, the rate of deterioration of various regions within the insulation cannot be assumed to be constant. In fact, rate of degradation for regions with comparatively high tan δ values are expected to be much higher. tan δ measurement fails to assess the individual condition of different regions. A technique, based on MDM, is introduced in the present work that can identify the change in ageing severity of various regions within a non‐uniformly aged insulation between two consecutive testing. The proposed method is first successfully tested on multiple series connected laboratory samples. Thereafter, the methodology is applied to data recorded from real life power transformer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Labeo calbasu is an important food fish and candidate species for diversification of carp aquaculture. In the present study, we have established a continuous cell line, designated as L. calbasu fin (LCF), from caudal fin of L. calbasu using explant method. The cell line has been subcultured for over 73 passages and the LCF cells show optimal growth in Leibovitz's L‐15 medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum at a temperature of 28°C. In karyotype analysis, the modal chromosome number of LCF cells at 35th passage was found to be 50. The amplification and sequencing of partial fragments of mitochondrial genes, namely 16S rRNA and COI from LCF cells confirmed the origin of cell line from L. calbasu. The LCF cells could be successfully transfected with GFP reporter gene, indicating suitability of these cells for expression of foreign genes. Further, following inoculation with supernatant from Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) infected cell line, no cytopathic effects were observed in the LCF cells and cell pellet was negative for TiLV in RT‐PCR, indicating that LCF cells were not susceptible to TiLV. The developed cell line has been submitted to National Repository of Fish Cell Lines being maintained at ICAR‐National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow (accession no. NRFC063). The newly developed LCF cell line would be helpful in investigating diseases affecting this candidate species particularly the ones suspected to be of viral etiology, and for cytotoxicity and transgenic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three-dimensional structure of nanocrystalline magnesium ferrite, MgFe2O4, prepared by ball milling, has been determined using synchrotron radiation powder diffraction and employing both Rietveld and atomic pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. The nanocrystalline ferrite exhibits a very limited structural coherence length and a high degree of structural disorder. Nevertheless, the nanoferrite possesses a very well defined local atomic ordering that may be described in terms of a spinel-type structure with Mg2+ and Fe3+ ions almost randomly distributed over its tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The new structural information helps explain the material's unusual magnetic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyploidy, the possession of multiple sets of chromosomes, has been a predominant factor in the evolution and success of the angiosperms. Although artificially formed allopolyploids show a high rate of genome rearrangement, the genomes of cultivars and germplasm used for crop breeding were assumed stable and genome structural variation under the artificial selection process of commercial breeding has remained little studied. Here, we show, using a repurposed visualization method based on transcriptome sequence data, that genome structural rearrangement occurs frequently in varieties of three polyploid crops (oilseed rape, mustard rape and bread wheat), meaning that the extent of genome structural variation present in commercial crops is much higher than expected. Exchanges were found to occur most frequently where homoeologous chromosome segments are collinear to telomeres and in material produced as doubled haploids. The new insights into genome structural evolution enable us to reinterpret the results of recent studies and implicate homoeologous exchanges, not deletions, as being responsible for variation controlling important seed quality traits in rapeseed. Having begun to identify the extent of genome structural variation in polyploid crops, we can envisage new strategies for the global challenge of broadening crop genetic diversity and accelerating adaptation, such as the molecular identification and selection of genome deletions or duplications encompassing genes with trait-controlling dosage effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The apparently universal 1-bond → 2-mode percolation behavior in the Raman spectra of zincblende semiconductor alloys is generally observed for the short bond only, and not for the long one. In this work we perform a combined high-pressure-backward/near-forward Raman study of the leading percolation-type (Zn,Be)Se alloy (~50 at.% Be), which exhibits a distinct percolation doublet in the spectral range of its short Be-Se bond, in search of a Zn-Se analogue. The high-pressure-backward insight is not conclusive per se, but clarifies the perspective behind the near-forward Raman study. The latter reveals an unique Zn-Se phonon-polariton. Its fair contour modeling depending on the scattering angle is achieved within the linear dielectric approach, based on ellipsometry measurement of the ZnBeSe refractive index. Somewhat surprisingly this reveals that the phonon-polariton in question is a 'fractional' one in that it carries only half of the available Zn-Se oscillator strength, as ideally expected in case of a BeSe-like bimodal Raman behavior of the long Zn-Se bond. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-phase nanocrystalline biocompatible Zn-doped A-type carbonated hydroxyapatite ( A-cHAp) powder has been synthesized via mechanical alloying of a stoichiometric mixture of CaCO3, CaHPO4·2H2O and ZnO powders in open air at room temperature by 10 h of milling. The A-type carbonation in HAp ( A-cHAp) is confirmed by Fourier transform IR analysis. The structural and microstructural parameters of the as-milled powders are revealed by Rietveld powder structure refinement analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Zn substitution along with mechanical alloying causes partial amorphization of crystalline A-cHAp, analogous to native bone mineral. Zn2+ cations substitute into the ninefold-coordinated Ca2+ sites in the A-cHAp unit cell. An assay test using MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] reveals a high percentage of cell viability and hence confirms the biocompatibility of the sample. The overall results indicate that the processed A-cHAp has a chemical composition very close to that of natural biological apatite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of lead-free perovskite solid solutions of (1 − x) Na0.5 Bi0.5 TiO3( NBT)- x BaSnO3( BSN), for 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15 have been synthesized using a high-temperature solid-state reaction route. The phase transition behaviors are studied using dielectric and Raman spectroscopic techniques. The ferroelectric to relaxor phase transition temperature ( TFR) and the temperature corresponding to maximum dielectric permittivity ( Tm) are estimated from the temperature-dependent dielectric data. Dielectric studies show diffuse phase transition around ~335°C in pure NBT and this transition temperature decreases with increase in x. The disappearance of x-dependence of A1 mode frequency at ~134 cm−1 for x ≥ 0.1 is consistent with rhombohedral-orthorhombic transition. In situ temperature dependence Raman spectroscopic studies show disappearance and discontinuous changes in the phonon mode frequencies across rhombohedral ( x < 0.1)/orthorhombic ( x ≥ 0.1) to tetragonal transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Analysis of the glucosinolate content and composition by high-pressure liquid chromatography indicated that varieties of Brassica juncea bred and grown in India have a high glucosinolate content characterized by the presence of 2-propenyl (allyl) and 3-butenyl as the major and 4-pentenyl as the minor fractions. In contrast, the B. juncea germplasm from other countries is characterized by the presence of 2-propenyl as the major glucosinolate fraction, trace amounts of 3-butenyl and a total lack of the 4-pentenyl types. In order to transfer the low glucosinolate trait to Indian B. juncea , the inheritance of total glucosinolates was investigated using doubled haploid (DH) populations derived from F1 (DH1 ) and BC1 (BC1 DH) of a cross between ‘Varuna’ (the most widely cultivated high glucosinolate variety of India) and ‘Heera’ (a non-allyl type low glucosinolate line). A total of 752 DH1 and 1263 BC1 DH gave rise to seven and 11 low glucosinolate (containing less than 18 µmol/g seed) individuals, respectively. On the basis of the frequency of the low glucosinolate individuals, the total glucosinolate was found to be under the control of seven genes. There was presence of both allyl and non-allyl types in DH1 and BC1 DH low-glucosinolate individuals and absence of 3-butenyl glucosinolate in some of the BC1 DH low glucosinolate individuals, indicating segregation for these fractions in the population. The size of the segregating DH population proved to be crucial for precise determination of the number of genes controlling the trait. Because of the large number of genes involved, incorporation of low glucosinolate trait in Indian B. juncea should be approached through doubled haploid (DH) breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to broaden the genetic base in oleiferous Brassica juncea by resynthesis, using 10 diverse parental lines of oleiferous B. rapa and two lines of B. nigra of both Indian and exotic origin. Out of 14 crosses attempted using B. rapa as the female parent, eight were successful. Embryo rescue was necessary to obtain interspecific plants. A total of 29 fertile interspecific plants were obtained after colchicine treatment. In the S2 generation, the expression of component characters in the majority of the resynthesized plants showed a negative trend. The resynthesized B. juncea lines are being maintained through repeated selfing and selection at each generation for desirable plant types. This process will continue till the progeny lines of the desirable plants achieve uniformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica carinata (BBCC), a potential oilseed crop for dry land agriculture, is sensitive to high temperatures during germination and early stages of growth, which thereby restricts the possibility of using the residual soil moisture available after the rainy season for its cultivation. To overcome this problem, a three-genome hybrid, RCBB, was synthesized using Raphanus sativus (RR) and Brassica oleracea (CC) as donor sources for the desired heat tolerance. Protoplasts of RC hybrids obtained through sexual crosses between R. sativus (female) and B. oleracea (male) were fused with protoplasts of Brassica nigra (BB) to produce RCBB somatic hybrids. The hybrid colonies regenerated with an average frequency of 7.6%. Twelve out of 36 hybrids grown to maturity were characterized for their nuclear and organelle genomes. While all the hybrids showed the presence of B. nigra chloroplasts, 10 of the hybrids showed B. nigra -specific mitochondria and two had Raphanus -specific mitochondria. The somatic hybrids could be backcrossed to B. carinata . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

‘Polima’ cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) was transferred from ‘Polima’ Brassica napus ‘ISN 706’ to five different cultivars of Brassica campestris (‘Pusa kalyani’, ‘Pant toria’, ‘Candle’, ‘Tobin’ and ‘ATC 94211’) by repeated backcrossing. It was observed that, while ‘Polima’ CMS manifested complete and stable male sterility in the nuclear backgrounds of ‘Pusa kalyani’, ‘Pant toria’, and ‘Tobin’, the cultivars ‘Candle’ and ‘ATC 94211’ possessed the restorer gene for this CMS in the heterozygous condition. An analysis of F1 and F2 generations of ‘Polima’ ‘Pusa kalyani’ × ‘Candle’ and ‘Polima’ ‘Pusa kalyani’ × ‘ATC 94211’ revealed that restoration is controlled by a single dominant gene. Identification of stable maintainers and restorers of ‘Polima’ CMS could facilitate the development of hybrid varieties in B. campestris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]