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The reproductive health of women is governed by an optimal balance in the host–microbiota interaction. Depletion of the beneficial vaginal microflora caused by depletion of Lactobacillus species and increased proliferation of pathogens results in gynaecological infections. Among women of reproductive age, vaginal infections are increasingly prevalent. Attaining therapeutic efficacy using conventional formulations remains a challenge as vaginal fluids quickly remove or dilute the therapeutic formulations. Hydrogels have been widely exploited for targeted delivery of therapeutics directly into the vaginal mucus. With a careful choice of polymers (natural, synthetic, or semisynthetic), hydrogels with specific properties, such as stimuli responsiveness, antimicrobial, and muco-adhesiveness, can be tailored for higher therapeutic efficacy. In this review, the advances in hydrogel strategies for the treatment of vaginal infections are presented with emphasis on the types and properties that play a significant role in vaginal drug delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work compares the changes in optical and structural properties of cerium oxide (CeO2) when doped with different concentrations (3%,5%,7%, and 9%) of two oxides, In2O3 and Eu2O3. X-ray diffraction and spectrophotometry were employed in the visible, ultraviolet, and near-infrared regions. The findings demonstrated that CeO2 doped with In2O3 and Eu2O3 thin films were polycrystalline and had a cubic structure. The crystal size increased from 20.5 to 32.15 when Eu2O3 doping ratio increased from 0% to 7% and then decreased to 28.46 nm at 9%. While the crystal size showed an increase from 20.5 to 21.42 nm with the increase of the In2O3 doping ratio, while the lattice constant measured for cubic CeO2 changed opposite to that. The optical measurement showed that Eu2O3 and In2O3 doped CeO2 thin films have a direct band gap with allowed transition with 3.0 eV for the undoped CeO2. The band gap energy changed in a non-regular manner with the increase of the doping ratio of both oxides. The minimum band gap energy was 1.2 eV obtained for 7% Eu2O3 doped CeO2 thin film, and the minimum band gap energy was 1.4 eV obtained for 9% In2O3 doped CeO2. These results qualify them for use as absorbers in solar cell applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe2O3/ MgO composites with various ratios (90/10,80/20,70/30,60/40 and 50/50 %wt.) were synthesized. Their structure was determined using the X-ray diffractometer. The observed X-Ray patterns showed that the prepared composites were polycrystalline with rhombohedral Hematite (α-Fe2O3) whereas the preferred planes for crystal growth are (104) and (110).The dielectric properties of the Fe2O3/ MgO, with various ratios, were studied as function of frequency over the range (50Hz – 1MHz). The conductivity as function to frequency σa.c(ω) obey the power law relation σa.c(ω) =Aωs where the factor s was found to be in the range 0.329-0.491. The dielectric constant is increasing; but not in a regular way, with the increasing MgO content. The dielectric loss increases with increasing the MgO ratio up 4%wt. and then decreases. The relaxation time was found also to increase the increasing MgO content, showing a decrease of conductivity and a slowing of the charge carriers movement. The polarizability (α) was measured from the plot of dielectric constant versus the dielectric loss variation. It was found that it increases from 0.112 to 0.234 with the increasing MgO content from 10 to 50 wt. % . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compounds from tin oxide doped with gallium oxide and cerium oxide were synthesized. Thin films from (SnO2:Ga2O3,CeO2) with different doping ratios were prepared on glass and single crystal silicon as substrates with the use of the pulsed laser deposition technique. The results of FTIR spectrums analysis was presented. Varies heterojunctions were fabricated from (SnO2:Ga2O3,CeO2 /Cu2S/c-pSi) heterojunctions solar cell which are formed from two layers: the first was Cu2S and the second was layer from tin oxide doped with two oxides named gallium oxide and cerium oxide with different doping ratios (0, 0.03, 0.05, and 0.07). The heterojuntion (SnO2:5%Ga2O3 /Cu2S/c-pSi photovoltaic structure exhibits open circuit voltage (Voc) of 150mV, short circuit current (Isc) of 15mA, fill factor of 0.622and efficiency of conversion of 2.8% under an intensity of illumination of 100mW/cm². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research deals with the effect of gallium oxide and cerium oxide as dopants on the structural and optical characteristics of tin oxide. Gallium and cerium oxide doped tin oxide was prepared with different doping concentrations (0, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07) wt. pure and doped tin oxide thin films were prepared by the pulsed laser deposition technique. X-ray diffraction and UV-Visible spectrophotometer were employed to investigate both oxides doping effects. Results showed that all prepared samples have poly-crystalline structure with a preferred plane of crystal growth along (110), where the crystal size grew from 40.3 nm to 64.5 nm and to 43.5 nm for Ga2O3 and CeO2 doped tin oxide thin films, respectively. Transmittance decreased drastically by increasing the doping ratio of gallium oxide. In contrast, it increased by increasing the doping ratio of cerium oxide. The optical energy gap was found to change in nonsystematic sequence with the increase of Ga2O3 doping concentration, while it decreased monotonically by increasing the CeO2 doping concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compounds from ZnO doped with AgO in different ratio (0,3,5,7, and 9)wt.% were prepared.Thin films from the prepared compounds were deposited on a glass substrate using the pulsed laser deposition method. The XRD pattern confirmed the presence of a single-phase hexagonal wurtzite ZnO structure, without the presence of a secondary phase. AFM measurements showed an increase in both average grain size and average surface roughness with increasing concentration content of (AgO).The crystallite size of ZnO of the main peak corresponding to the preferred plane of crystal growth named (100) increases from 17.8 to 22.5nm by increasing of AgO doping ratio from 0 to 9%. The absorbance and transmittance in the wavelength range (350-1100 nm) were used to determine the optical properties. The results showed that the optical energy gap for direct allowed transition (r =0.5 )are (3.21, 3.2,3.15, 3.15, 2.95 ) Ev, respectively. The optical constants were also measured as a function of wavelength. This optical measurements showed the prepared thin film have many applications for solar cell fabrication and sensing devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, thin films of undoped and nickel oxide (NiO) doped titanium dioxide (TiO2) were prepared using the chemical spray pyrolysis deposition (CSP) technique, with different concentrations of nickel oxide (NiO) in the range (3-9) wt%. The morphological, structural, electrical, and sensing properties of a gas of the prepared thin films were examined. XRD measurements showed that TiO2 films have a polycrystalline structure. AFM analysis showed that these films have a regular structure both before and after doping . The roughness of these films decreased after adding impurities but then the opposite of that took place. The electrical and gas sensing properties of titanium dioxide was also affected after doping. The highest sensitivity value was obtained at doping concentration of 5wt% and working temperature 473ºK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, thin films of undoped and nickel oxide (NiO) doped titanium dioxide (TiO2) were prepared using the chemical spray pyrolysis deposition (CSP) technique, with different concentrations of nickel oxide (NiO) in the range (3-9) wt%. The morphological, structural, electrical, and sensing properties of a gas of the prepared thin films were examined. XRD measurements showed that TiO2 films have a polycrystalline structure. AFM analysis showed that these films have a regular structure both before and after doping . The roughness of these films decreased after adding impurities but then the opposite of that took place. The electrical and gas sensing properties of titanium dioxide was also affected after doping. The highest sensitivity value was obtained at doping concentration of 5wt% and working temperature 473ºK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: The case highlights an unusual presentation where sleep issues preceded psychotic symptoms, implying link between disrupted sleep and psychosis onset. Earlier symptoms were viewed as depression but may have signaled psychosis exacerbated by insomnia. Sleep disorders, prevalent yet frequently overlooked in individuals with psychotic disorders, have significant associations with the onset and severity of psychosis. Here we describe the case of a patient who first presented with insomnia, but whose condition improved with the use of risperidone and was diagnosed with first‐episode psychosis. Multiple studies emphasize the critical relationship between sleep disturbances and psychosis, particularly in the lead‐up to first‐episode psychosis. Structural abnormalities in the brain, notably the thalamus, combined with neurotransmitter imbalances involving dopamine and acetylcholine, seem pivotal in this interrelation. The connection between dopamine, sleep disturbances, and psychosis, specifically the role of D2 dopamine receptors, highlights a potential pathway bridging sleep irregularities with psychosis. The study underscores the need for further research to delineate the relationship between sleep disturbances and psychosis and to assess the efficacy of various therapeutic interventions targeting both conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a thesis on the study of the three of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases including dengue, malaria and Zika through the mode of numerical simulations. The study is conducted in order to understand the transmission of these vector-borne diseases. The research work conducted is based on the vector-borne diseases' deterministic modelling. With the help of numerical simulations, the transmission of the diseases is understood.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions prevent and control disease in humanitarian response. To inform future funding and policy priorities, WASH 'gaps' were identified via 220 focus‐group discussions with people affected by crises and WASH practitioners, 246 global survey respondents, and 614 documents. After extraction, 2,888 (48 per cent) gaps from direct feedback and 3,151 (52 per cent) from literature were categorised. People affected by crises primarily listed 'services gaps', including a need for water, sanitation, solid waste disposal, and hygiene items. Global survey respondents principally cited 'mechanism gaps' in providing services, including collaboration, WASH staffing expertise, and community engagement. Literature highlighted gaps in health (but not other) WASH intervention impacts. Overall, people affected by crises wanted the 'what' (services), responders wanted the 'how' (to supply), and researchers wanted the 'why' (health consequences). This study suggests a need for a renewed focus on basic WASH services, collaboration across stakeholders, and research on WASH outcomes beyond health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemometric calibrations namely, Partial least square (PLS), principal component regression (PCR) and classical least square (CLS), were developed for the simultaneous determination of domeperidone and lansoprazole from combined pharmaceutical dosage forms. In these methods with chemometric techniques, the calibrations were constructed by using the absorption data matrix, with measurements in the range of 260-310 nm (ДХ = 1 nm) in their zero order spectra. The chemometric calibrations were realized by using R - software (version 2.1.1). The linearity range was found to be 4-36 pg ml-1 and 2-18 pgml-1 for DOMP and LANS respectively. The lower correlation coefficient values 0.9998, 0.9999 and 0.9992 for DOMP and 0.996, 0.998 and 0.999 for LANS respectively estimated for CLS, PCR and PLS respectively. The validity of the proposed methods was successfully assessed for analysis of both drugs in laboratory prepared mixtures and in commercial formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]