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• Aspergillus fumigatus effectively controls root-knot nematodes in Solanum melongena. • Frequency of root galls dropped by 6.8-fold in A. fumigatus colonized seedlings. • Fungus colonized seedlings had higher levels of SA indicating SA dependent response. • The fungus secreted a number of nematocidal phenols and alkaloids. Because of the endophytic fungi's ability to improve host plant fitness and boost their defense they have been used as to control root knot nematode (RKN) infection. RKNs induce root galls by altering growth pattern in the cell elongation zone, thereby obstructing nutrient transport to various parts of the plant. This project was designed to control RKN infestation in Solanum melongena by utilizing plant-friendly endophytic fungi. Garlic plants were used to isolate endophytic fungi which were then screened for their potential to inhibit RKN in S. melongena. Based on its namatocidal potential, the endophyte strain, named GR was selected and identified to be Aspergillus fumigatus with the help of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) segment of the rRNA genes. The fungus had the ability to release indole acetic acid (IAA), salicylic acid (SA), phenols and flavonoids. The potential endophytes were assessed for the biocontrol of RKN in S. melongena seedlings grown in pots. The isolated strain conferred resistance to RKN penetration, leading to a substantial reduction in the frequency of root galls by 6.8-fold than the control. In comparison to control, endophyte-associated seedlings exhibited a 50 % increase in SA levels, indicating a SA-dependent defense against RKN. The activity of catalase and ascorbic acid was also boosted to suppress ROS generated in the RKN infested seedlings. The culture of the endophytic isolate contained nematicidal phenol (p-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, Calycosin) and an alkaloid (Cyclopenin). These findings suggest that the isolated endophyte confers resistance to RKN in Solanum melongena by modulating host physiology and releasing nematicidal substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and technology have witnessed significant improvement with the introduction of Internet of things (IoT) applications, and most of the IoT applications are dependent on the cloud. Cloud computing is assisting IoT applications by providing storage, analysis, and processing services on the cloud. However, Fog computing is the new paradigm that supports the cloud by providing scheduling, resources optimization, and energy optimization services. Scheduling tasks based on MIPs size and prioritizing the tasks with smaller MIPs size first make critical tasks with larger MIPs wait, which ultimately increases the delay and may result in some serious problems. This paper proposes a methodology for critical tasks having large MIPs size by scheduling and prioritizing the tasks based on the nature of the task. The proposed methodology for latency-critical applications reduces latency, energy consumption, and network utilization. This paper proposed a scheduler "Critical task First Scheduler" (CTFS), which schedules tasks depending on the nature of the requests, which are classified as either critical or noncritical. The proposed methodology is implemented in a healthcare scenario, and the simulations are performed in iFogSim simulator. Critical requests, such as emergency notifications, are prioritized and designated as critical, requiring immediate processing. The environment was kept the same for all the approaches that are implemented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The results of the proposed approach were compared with First Come First Served (FCFS), Shortest Job First (SJF), and cloud-only approaches to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in terms of latency, energy consumption, and network utilization. Simulation results show that the proposed CTFS approach outperformed the compared techniques for all three comparison parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A possible reaction mechanism over the PMS/Ɛ-MnO 2 nanocatalyst system for SMX degradation. [Display omitted] ε-MnO 2 effectively activates peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the efficient degradation of emerging pollutants. ε-MnO 2 was synthesized by a facile thermal-treatment method and its long-term stability and efficiency for the elimination of emerging pollutants, including sulfamethoxazole (SMX), sulfachloropyridazine (SCP), sulfamethazine (SMT), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and azithromycin (AZI), from aqueous media were evaluated. ε-MnO 2 was found to activate PMS more efficiently than α-MnO 2 , β-MnO 2 , or δ-MnO 2 , owing to its high − OH-group content, unique structure, and high surface area. Sulfate (SO 4 •−), hydroxyl (•OH), and superoxide (O 2 •−) radicals, as well as singlet oxygen (1O 2) were generated, with O 2 •− acting as the 1O 2 precursor. The ε-MnO 2 /PMS system proved to be effective in the pH range of 3.5–9.0 and the rate of SMX degradation was not significantly affected by the presence of inorganic anions or natural organic matter. The proposed pathway for the activation of PMS by ε-MnO 2 includes inner-sphere interactions between ε-MnO 2 and PMS, and electron transfer to PMS via the MnIII ↔ MnIV redox cycle, which generates reactive oxygen species. These findings provide new insight into PMS activation by less-toxic metal oxides as catalysts and demonstrate that Mn-based materials can be used to effectively treat water matrices containing emerging pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A-Mn 2 O 3 nanocatalyst possess efficient catalytic properties for PS activation and exhibits remarkable performance for the degradation of organic contaminants via singlet oxygen. In this study, the catalytic activation of persulfate (PS) via metal oxides was investigated, and the A-Mn 2 O 3 nanocatalyst was found to have the highest efficiency among other PS activators for the degradation of organic contaminants. Additionally, A-Mn 2 O 3 exhibited a remarkable efficiency in activating PS for the degradation of phenol compared to both B-Mn 2 O 3 and C-Mn 2 O 3. This was attributed to the longer bonds between edge-sharing MnO 6 octahedra, the unique structure, the high content surface –OH groups, and the average oxidation states. This indicated that all these properties played an important role in an efficient PS activation. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, scavenger tests, and chemical probes were conducted to investigate the reactive oxygen species (ROS). Singlet oxygen (1O 2) was determined to be the main ROS generated from PS activation. A plausible mechanism study was proposed, which involved inner-sphere interactions. An electron transfer of the Mn species facilitated the decomposition of PS to generate HO 2 • /O 2 • − radicals, which were utilized as a precursor for 1O 2 generation via direct oxidation or the recombination of HO 2 • /O 2 • −. Finally, the phenol and Sulfachloropyridazine (SCP) degradation pathways were proposed by 1O 2 over the A-Mn 2 O 3 /PS system according to HPLC and LC-MS results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modifications in the physical properties of photovoltaic materials lead to enhanced conversion efficiency of a solar cell. This paper focuses on the suitable material selection for the cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cell with special emphasis on improving the electrical parameters such as open-circuit voltage Voc, short-circuit current density Jsc, fill factor FF, and efficiency ƞ. Simulation results showed that materials having wide bandgap are more appropriate for each layer in the proposed cell compared to small-bandgap materials. Moreover, the back metal contact, which acts as electrode and also used as light reflector, usually suffers from high intrinsic absorption losses. To reduce such losses, we replaced the metal contact by a highly reflective one-dimensional distributed Bragg reflector, which increases the optical path length in greater amount over a broad span of incident angles and frequencies, and subsequently enhances the performance of the cell. The measured electrical parameters of the proposed cell under global AM 1.5G conditions are JSC = 25.036 mA/cm2, Voc = 1.065 V, FF = 87.56%, and ƞ = 23.94%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the photon absorption in ultrathin-film solar cells with active layer thickness of a few micrometers is important for enhancing efficiency and reducing cost. We present a computational study of novel design consisting of ultrathin absorber layer made of gallium arsenide (GaAs) integrated with plasmonic square nanoring particles. The energy absorbed by GaAs layer is significantly enhanced with the help of plasmonic nanorings, resulting in substantial absorption enhancement of approximately 34% compared with bare active layer. For qualitative analysis, the short-circuit current density of thin-film cell is evaluated for AM 1.5 G solar illumination and is found to be 1.4 times higher compared with unpatterned solar cell structure. Furthermore, the structure is optimized by varying different parameters and materials of functional layers, yielding a photocurrent density of 30.185 mA/cm2, which is close to the Yablonovitch limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MnO-H containing a large number of oxygen vacancies (OVs) was synthesized. • MnO-H exhibits better catalytic performance than MnO-N and MnO-C. • OVs improve catalytic performance for rapid acetaminophen (ACE) degradation. • MnO-H activates peroxymonosulfate and triggers an electron transfer pathway. • ACE is primarily removed via an electron transfer pathway. Understanding the role of oxygen vacancies (OVs) in endowing catalytic activity is important for the design of efficient catalysts for advanced oxidation processes. In this study, we prepared MnO catalysts with different amounts of OVs under an atmosphere of H 2 (MnO-H) and N 2 (MnO-N) and investigated their acetaminophen (ACE) degradation efficiency via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. MnO-H exhibited the best degradation performance because of its numerous OVs, compared with that of MnO-N and the commercial MnO. Data analysis revealed that ACE degradation proceeded via electron transfer. Density functional theory calculations confirmed that compared with the other catalysts, MnO-H/PMS with more OVs had higher catalytic activity, higher adsorption energy, lower work function, and higher electron transformation. The MnO-H/PMS system was stable at pH 3.0–9.0 and showed good recyclability. We believe that our findings will provide deeper insights into the role of OVs and encourage the use of less toxic metal oxides as catalysts in the selective degradation of organic pollutants in water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Objective criteria to predict difficult pelvic dissection with prognostic significance are lacking. Previous studies have focused on predicting intraoperative conversion and not evaluated factors specific to pelvic surgery. We aimed to develop an objective, prognostic, preoperative assessment to predict difficult pelvic dissections and clinical outcomes. Such a model is much needed, may facilitate objective comparisons between rectal cancer centers, or may serve as a stratification variable in clinical trials. Materials and methods Patients who underwent low anterior resection or abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer within 10 cm of the anal verge (2009-2014) were retrospectively analyzed. Procedures were categorized into "routine" or "difficult" based on predefined criteria. All patients underwent 14 measurements on preoperative imaging. Outcomes were compared between the two groups. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to develop the prediction model, which was validated in an independent data set. Results Of the 280 patients analyzed, 80 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Baseline characteristics were similar except for more males having a "difficult" pelvis. "Difficult" patients were significantly more likely to have a narrower pelvis, smaller pelvic volumes, a longer pelvis, more curved sacrum, and more acute anorectal angle. Difficult cases correlated significantly with higher blood loss, hospital costs, longer operative time, and length of stay. A practical model to predict difficult pelvic dissections was created and included male gender, previous radiation, and length from promontory to pelvic floor > 130 mm. Model validation was performed in 40 patients from an independent data set. Conclusions An objective, validated model that predicts a difficult pelvic dissection and associated worse clinical outcome is possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Novel metasurface absorber based on crossed shaped resonator placed at the top surface is proposed to exhibit enhanced absorption resonances in the entire solar spectrum. Different cases of the absorber are discussed with special emphasis on large spectral width and peak amplitude. It is found that the absorption resonances and their corresponding spectral widths can be significantly modified and widened by adding extra nanorods to the crossed shaped structure at different locations. Furthermore, the weighted absorption under the AM1.5 solar spectrum (A AM1.5) of the solar cell is also evaluated by varying the structural parameters, which reaches to ∼ 86.35%. Such high value of A AM1.5 indicates that the proposed design is highly suitable for solar cell application because it greatly enhance the conversion efficiency. Highlights • The proposed metasurface absorber is composed of bottom gold layer, middle dielectric layer, and top gold layer, which is comprised of cross shaped resonator. • An additional glass layer at top of the resonator layer is also added to transmit maximum light into the structure and resist heat expansion. • Multiple and broad absorption bands are obtained by adding extra gold nanobars with the cross shaped structure. • The absorber offers high values of A AM1.5 (~86.35%), which indicates that it can greatly enhance the conversion efficiency of solar cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the comparative therapeutic efficacy of Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) fruit extract and procaine penicillin in the treatment of subclinical mastitis, a total of 30 subclinical mastitis positive buffaloes out of 194 lactating buffaloes were divided into 3 equal groups viz. A, B and C. Group A was treated with procaine penicillin, group B was treated with Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract and group C was served as control for 5 days respectively. The collected milk samples were subjected to the treatment trials before and after the treatment at day 0, 7th and 14th day aseptically. The evaluation parameters were bacteriological cure rate, milk pH, milk yield. The percentage cure rate of sub-clinically mastitic quarters in group A, B and C were 80.95%, 64.7% and 22.22% at day 14 respectively. The quarter based bacteriological cure rate was highest in group A (80.95%) followed by group B (64.7%) and group C (22.22%). The pH was significant (P > .05) in group A, B and C at day 0, 7 and 14. It is concluded that Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract is an inexpensive source in the treatment of subclinical mastitis in dairy buffaloes and can be used as an alternative to antibiotic therapy as for procaine penicillin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several power allocation algorithms for cooperative relay networks are presented in the literature. These contributions assume perfect channel knowledge and capacity achieving codes. However in practice, obtaining the channel state information at a relay or at the destination is an estimation problem and can generally not be error free. The investigation of the power allocation mechanism in a wireless network due to channel imperfections is important because it can severely degrade its performance regarding throughput and bit error rate. In this paper, the impact of imperfect channel state information on the power allocation of an adaptive relay network is investigated. Moreover, a framework including Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) mechanism is provided to make the power allocation mechanism robust against these channel imperfections. For this framework, the end-to-end SNR is calculated considering imperfect channel knowledge using ARQ analytically. The goal is to emphasize the impact of imperfect channel knowledge on the power allocation mechanism. In this paper, the simulation results illustrate the impact of channel uncertainties on the average outage probability, throughput, and consumed sum power for different qualities of channel estimation. It is shown that the presented framework with ARQ is extremely robust against the channel imperfections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to compare the effectiveness of open reduction and internal fixation with volar locking plate verses external fixation in the management of unstable distal radius fracture. Study design: Randomized control trial. Place and duration of study: Department of Orthopaedics, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. Patients and methods: Patients were alternatively allocated into two groups A & B. In group A open reduction and internal fixation with volar locking plate was done and in group B external fixation was done. Internal fixation was done by volar locking plate through volar radial (Henry) approach. External fixator with 3.5mm schanz screws was applied with two schanz screw in 2nd metacarpal bone and two schanz screws in radius proximal to fracture site with ligamentotaxis. Radiological outcome was measured after four weeks post operatively using radiological criteria of acceptance for distal radius fracture. Results: Mean age in group A was 37±2.76 years whereas in group B was 38± 3.02 years. Efficacy was analyzed as Open reduction and internal fixation with volar locking plate was effective in 88% patients Where as external fixation was effective in 72% patients. Conclusion: Our study concludes that open reduction and internal fixation with volar locking plate was more effective than external fixation in the management of unstable distal radius fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of anterior subcutaneous transposition of ulnar nerve among the patients presenting with idiopathic compression ulnar neuropathy. Study design: Descriptive case series study. Place and duration of study: Department of Orthopaedics, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Patients and Methods: A total of 93 patients were observed. All patients were subjected to anterior subcutaneous transposition of ulnar nerve under general anesthesia. All the surgical procedures were performed by single experienced orthopaedic surgeon. All patients were followed up at the end of 1 month to determine intervention effectiveness in terms of both reduction of pain by at least 2 grades from baseline and improvement in MRC grading by at least 2 grades from baseline at presentation. Results: A total of 93 patients with idiopathic compression ulnar neuropathy were observed, in which male to female ratio was 2.72:1. Average age was 43.84 years + 1.07SD. Efficacy of anterior subcutaneous transposition of ulnar nerve in the treatment of idiopathic compression ulnar neuropathy was 56(60.22%) while in 37(39.78%) were found non-effective results. Conclusion: Anterior subcutaneous transposition of ulnar nerve is the effective procedure for the treatment of idiopathic compression ulnar neuropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of transition metal based heterogeneous catalysts with efficient reactivity and intensive stability is of great demand in peroxymonosulfate based AOPs in water treatment. Herein, we present a novel approach of creating stable and effective nano-rod catalyst of CuCo@MnO 2 with tetragonal structure. A remarkable synergetic effect was found between bi-metallic oxides of Cu and Co: 0.5%Cu-2%Co-MnO 2 can efficiently degrade 100% of 30 ppm phenol, while 0.5%Cu@MnO 2 or 2%Co@MnO 2 alone is apparently sluggish for the degradation of organic contaminants. The nanocatalyst retained good stability in recycling tests, during which little leaching of Co and Cu ions can be detected and crystallinity of support α˗MnO 2 remained unchanged. Mechanism study indicated that SO 4 − and OH are accounted to participate the degradation, and the generation of radicals is originated from the interaction of CuCo@MnO 2 and PMS through metal site with peroxo species bond. The redox cycle among the active metals (M 2+ ↔ M 3+ ↔ M 2+ ) and Cu enhanced generation of Co(II)–OH complex are critical for the remarkable performance in CuCo@MnO 2 /PMS system. Both the synergetic acceleration of catalyst activity and instinct mechanism are highly suggestive to the design of heterogeneous catalysts for the degradation of organic contaminants in PMS based advanced oxidation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A possible overall sulfite activation mechanism on Mn 2 O 3 @Mn 5 O 8 catalyst for organic contaminant degradation. [Display omitted] • Mn 2 O 3 @Mn 5 O 8 shows better catalytic performance than other S(IV) activators. • S(IV) is activated by Mn 2 O 3 @Mn 5 O 8 , generating SO 3 •−, SO 5 •−, SO 4 •−, and •OH radicals. • Experiments show phenol is mainly removed by •OH, and partially by SO 4 •− and SO 5 •−. • At an initial solution pH of 3.0–7.0, stable degradation of phenol is achieved. • Low toxicity and high S(IV) activation ability of Mn 2 O 3 @Mn 5 O 8 affords a green method. Less-toxic, cost-effective, stable, and highly efficient catalysts for sodium sulfite (S(IV)) activation are required to degrade organic pollutants from wastewater. Herein, we report the facile thermal synthesis of Mn 2 O 3 @Mn 5 O 8 that activates S(IV) more efficiently than other Mn and transition-metal oxides. Mn 2 O 3 @Mn 5 O 8 exhibits good performance and long-term stability for eliminating various contaminants from aqueous media, including phenol, bisphenol A, nitrobenzene, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and acetaminophen. Its high performance is attributed to its multivalency, unique architecture, surface hydroxyl groups (–OH), and high surface area. X-ray diffractometry and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed that Mn 2 O 3 @Mn 5 O 8 comprises well-combined cubic Mn 2 O 3 and monoclinic Mn 5 O 8 crystalline structures, whereas electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and scavenging tests showed that SO 5 •−, SO 4 •−, and •OH radicals are generated during S(IV) activation, with SO 3 •− as a precursor. The mixed-valence state provides effective and favorable electron transfer via Mn redox cycling (Mn(II) ↔ Mn(III) ↔ Mn(IV)), improving the S(IV) activation performance and catalytic activity. Mn 2 O 3 @Mn 5 O 8 /S(IV) system shows stable performance in the 3.0–7.0 pH range. Density functional theory calculations confirmed the higher catalytic activity as indicated by high –OH adsorption energy and significant inter-charge transformation. This study provides new insights and strategies for the activation of S(IV) using less-toxic metal oxides as catalysts and broadens the scope of heterogeneous Mn-based catalysts and S(IV) chemistry in real-world applications, particularly for the treatment of wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results Among the 32 patients included in the study, 23 underwent robotic pyloroplasty and 9 laparoscopic pyloroplasty. 1 Pre- and postoperative symptom severity scores for robotic and laparoscopic pyloroplasty Discussion The results of this study show that robotic pyloroplasty is as safe and cost-effective as laparoscopic pyloroplasty with reduced operative times and LOS and comparable long-term improvement in symptoms. Keywords: Pyloroplasty; Gastroparesis; Robotic; Laparoscopic; Costs EN Pyloroplasty Gastroparesis Robotic Laparoscopic Costs 2679 2680 2 10/20/21 20211001 NES 211001 Introduction Laparoscopic pyloroplasty has been shown to alleviate symptoms of patients with medically refractory gastroparesis,[1] but little is known about the costs and outcomes of robotic pyloroplasty. [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] • The silver-copper mixed-oxide Ag 2 Cu 2 O 3 was successfully prepared. • The catalyst showed high performance for PNP degradation via PMS activation. • The synergistic effect between Cu and Ag in the catalyst was clarified. • A possible mechanism for PNP degradation was proposed. Recently, the development of efficient mixed metal oxide catalysts for organic pollutants degradation via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation is a hot topic in the area of wastewater treatment. In this work, the silver-copper mixed-oxide, Ag 2 Cu 2 O 3 (ACO) was reported for the first time as a highly active catalyst for removing organic pollutants in the presence of PMS. ACO was successfully synthesized from Ag+ and Cu2+ ions at 60 °C, and its structure was strongly influenced by the temperature. The catalyst could almost completely remove p -nitrophenol and other pollutants with 0.65 mM PMS after 20 min, and also exhibited satisfactory stability and recyclability. The system efficiency was shown to vary with the concentration of PMS and catalyst, as well as solution pH. Scavenger experiment and EPR analysis indicated that radicals produced by the oxidation of Ag(I) and Cu(I) with PMS could promote degradation reaction. The synergistic effect between Cu and Ag in the bimetallic catalyst was demonstrated to contribute to the high performance: Cu(II)-O-Ag(I) bonds promote the conversion of Cu(II) species to Cu(I) through reaction with PMS, and facilitate the oxidation of Cu(I) and Ag(I) by PMS to generate active radicals. The study provides a feasible strategy to design efficient and stable bimetal oxide catalysts for PMS activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assessing performance automatically in a virtual reality trainer or from recorded videos is advantageous but needs validated objective metrics. The purpose of this study is to obtain expert consensus and validate task-specific metrics developed for assessing performance in double-layered end-to-end anastomosis. Materials and methods: Subjects were recruited into expert (PGY 4–5, colorectal surgery residents, and attendings) and novice (PGY 1–3) groups. Weighted average scores of experts for each metric item, completion time, and the total scores computed using global and task-specific metrics were computed for assessment. Results: A total of 43 expert surgeons rated our task-specific metric items with weighted averages ranging from 3.33 to 4.5 on a 5-point Likert scale. A total of 20 subjects (10 novices and 10 experts) participated in validation study. The novice group completed the task significantly more slowly than the experienced group (37.67 ± 7.09 vs 25.47 ± 7.82 min, p = 0.001). In addition, both the global rating scale (23.47 ± 4.28 vs 28.3 ± 3.85, p = 0.016) and the task-specific metrics showed a significant difference in performance between the two groups (38.77 ± 2.83 vs 42.58 ± 4.56 p = 0.027) following partial least-squares (PLS) regression. Furthermore, PLS regression showed that only two metric items (Stay suture tension and Tool handling) could reliably differentiate the performance between the groups (20.41 ± 2.42 vs 24.28 ± 4.09 vs, p = 0.037). Conclusions: Our study shows that our task-specific metrics have significant discriminant validity and can be used to evaluate the technical skills for this procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colon and Rectal Surgery fellowships are training programs that aim to train surgeons in the management of small bowel, colon, rectal, and anal pathologies. Objective: We investigated trends in Colon and Rectal Surgery fellowship match to help applicants anticipate future fellowship application cycles. Design: This was a retrospective cohort study of applicants in the Colon and Rectal Surgery match from 2009 to 2023. Proportion of positions filled, match rates, and rank-order lists were collected. The impact of US-MD, non-US-MD, and DO status on match rate was assessed. We used the Mann Kendall trend test to obtain tau statistic and P -value for temporal trends over time, while associations between categorical variables were investigated by a chi-square test. Results: Fellowship programs increased from 43 to 67, positions increased from 78 to 110, and number of applicants rose from 113 to 135. Nearly all positions were filled from 2009 to 2023 (range: 96.3%-100%). The overall match rate fluctuated between 67.3% and 80.7%. The match rate over the past 5 years was 72.0%. The match rate for US-MDs was 80.0%, while non-US-MDs had a 56.2% match rate. The percentage matching at each rank were first choice 28.0%, second choice 10.4%, third choice 6.9%, and fourth choice or lower 23.5%. Conclusion: Despite an increase in Colon and Rectal Surgery fellowship positions, the overall match rate has not changed significantly over the years, mainly as a result of increased applicants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the high recurrence rate of sigmoid volvulus, there is reluctance to perform a prophylactic colectomy in frail patients due to the operation's perceived risks. We used a nationally representative database to compare risk of recurrence in patients undergoing a prophylactic colectomy versus endoscopic detorsion alone. We performed a retrospective cohort study using the National Readmission Database (2016-2019) including patients aged ≥18 y who had an emergent admission for sigmoid volvulus and underwent endoscopic detorsion on the day of admission. We performed a 1:1 propensity matching adjusting for patient demographics, frailty score comprising of 109 components, and hospital characteristics. Our primary outcome was readmission due to colonic volvulus and secondary outcomes included mortality, complications, length of stay (LOS), and costs during index admission and readmission. We performed a subgroup analysis in patients with Hospital Frailty Score >5. We included 2113 patients of which 1046 patients (49.5%) underwent a colectomy during the initial admission. In the matched population of 830 pairs, readmission due to colonic volvulus was significantly lower in patients undergoing endoscopy followed by colectomy than endoscopy alone. Patients undergoing a colectomy had higher gastric and renal complications, longer LOS, and higher costs but no difference in mortality. In the subgroup analysis of frail patients, readmission was significantly lower in patients with prophylactic colectomy with no significant difference in mortality in 439 matched patients. Prophylactic colectomy was associated with lower readmission, a higher rate of complications, increased LOS, and higher costs compared to sigmoid decompression alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The generation of Mn(III) and Mn(II) is crucial for peroxymonosulfate activation; • Multiple reactive species including radicals and non-radical were involved; • The formation of BrO 3 − is inhibited in α-MnO 2 nanowires/peroxymonosulfate process; • Sixteen intermediates were detected during the degradation of atrazine. In this study, a series of Mn based catalysts with different oxidative states, crystal structures and morphologies was applied to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of atrazine (ATZ). Among them, α-MnO 2 nanowires (Mn-1) demonstrated the highest efficiency. The structure-performance relationship study revealed that the generation of Mn(III) along with the transformation of lattice oxygen to surface hydroxyl groups played the dominant role in controlling the efficiency, and Mn-1 are prone to undergo electron transfer to achieve the transition from Mn(IV) to Mn(III) or even Mn(II). Both radical (sulfate radical (SO 4 •−) and hydroxyl radical (•OH)) and non-radical species (1O 2) contributed to ATZ degradation and accordingly inhibit the formation of toxic BrO 3 − from Br−. Sixteen intermediates were identified in proposed degradation pathways. The toxicity tests, the consistent performance with coexisting anions and humic acid in water matrix, and the satisfying reusability implied the sustainable application of Mn-1/PMS in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cell has recently gained incredible momentum and is achieving a prominent lead from its counterpart conventional solar cell. Since its reported startup in 2012, perovskite has hit the target of 22 % efficiency in the span of just a few years. Its high efficiency and low cost encourage researchers around the world to continue their research in the hope of improving its performance. This work presents an optimized model of solar cell based on perovskite material, which is developed by optimizing various possible parameters that can essentially influence the performance of the cell. These include the effect of absorber layer thickness, materials for hole transport (HTL) and electron transport (ETL) layers as they play a vital role in the efficiency and stability of the cell, and the doping density. Moreover, the influence of working temperature on the device model is also examined and it is found that the proposed solar cell can even better operate at high temperatures. Upon obtaining the optimal thickness of absorber layer, the best ETL and HTL materials along with the doping concentrations, and effect of temperature, our simulation results show a significant improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cell (PSC), achieving a maximum efficiency of 23.05 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Quenching technology effectively facilitated the regeneration of Fenton sludge. • Cu ions were incorporated into surface of Fe 2 O 3 and replaced the Fe atoms. • Strong d orbital coupling facilitated electron transfer and promotes the redox cycle. The incorporation of specific atoms into catalysts derived from Fenton sludge has the potential to regulate active site for promoting peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. Here, quenching technology was employed in this study to facilitate the production of a highly active Fe 2 O 3 -based catalyst from Fenton sludge. In this process, Cu atoms effectively substituted Fe atoms and regulated the local electronic structure of neighbouring Fe sites, thereby enhancing the catalytic performance in PMS activation for the degradation of Levofloxacin (LEVO) in wastewater. The strong orbital coupling between Fe and Cu, as confirmed by comprehensive characterization and density functional theory (DFT), facilitated the delocalization of d-orbital electrons, thereby enabling efficient electron transfer and redox cycling of Cu2+/Cu+ and Fe3+/Fe2+. This allowed degradation reaction to proceed continuously. The present study will offer a novel approach to the design of Fenton sludge derived catalysts, thereby expanding the utilization of quenching chemistry in solid waste recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar cells based on multi-junctions are considered to be the most efficient way of improving the cell's sunlight to electrical energy conversion efficiency. In this paper, we simulated monolithic tandem solar cell comprised of high and low bandgap materials i.e., perovskite/silicon layers, separated by a recombination layer made of Spiro-MeOTAD/Silicon, a window layer formed from zinc oxide (ZnO), a buffer layer formed from cadmium sulfide (CdS), and a heavily doped back surface field layer made of n++Si to stop the recombination at the back surface. The stated structure is investigated numerically and optimized for different parameters, which include bandgap, thickness of active layers, and dopant concentration. The obtained photovoltaic parameters are: open circuit voltage (V oc) =1.779 V , short circuit current density (J sc) =20.19 mA/cm2, fill factor (FF) = 82.22 %, and efficiency (η) = 28.50 %, respectively. Additionally, we tested the optimized solar cell design for high temperatures, and it turned out that temperature had very little effect on the cell, showing superior performance than conventional multi-junction structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have significantly reduced the overall cost of solar energy system, making solar oriented devices universally clean and green energy source. However, to make OSCs more competitive in diverse photovoltaic (PV) technologies, it is essential to attain high efficiencies by analyzing novel materials and realizing optimal arrangements of donor–acceptor materials. In this paper, we attempt to show a terse depth insight of OSCs by investigating three novel architecture schemes with special emphasis on improving the power conversion efficiency. The materials include include i) poly (3-hexylthiophene):[(6,6)]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM), ii) thieno [3,4-b] thiophene-alt-benzodithiophene [6,6]:-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PTB7:PCBM), and iii) poly{4,4′-bis(2-ethylhexyl) dithieno [3,2-b:2′,3′-d] silole-alt-5,6-difluoro-4,7-bis (4-hexylthiophen-2-yl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazle): [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PDTS-DTffBT:PCBM), respectively. Results show that the extracted performance parameters including short circuit current (J SC) = 10.88 mA/m2, open circuit voltage (V oc) = 0.82 V, fill factor (FF) = 83.52 %, and efficiency (ƞ) = 7.49 % is highest for the second scheme among others. Different intermediate layers have also been analyzed with the objective to reduce the recombination losses and enhance the power conversion efficiency of the proposed cell. The impact of temperature on the overall ղ is also presented and it is discovered that high temperature reduces the performance of the solar cell. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed structure is compared with various kinds of OSCs and it is found that our design exhibit highest efficiency. The achievement of high efficiencies in this work may accelerate the practical applications of OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, biochar derived from rice husk via one-spot calcination treatment at 550 °C (biochar R550), demonstrated a remarkable efficiency in the simultaneous reduction of Cr(VI) and degradation of organic pollutants. With a low Cr(VI) content (0–0.2 mM) coexisting in the biochar (10 g L−1) system, organic pollutants (1 mM) were mostly degraded via a radical process at pH 3, additionally oxidized by Cr(VI) via an electron transfer mediated by biochar, which ultimately promoted the removal of organic pollutants. While further increasing the Cr(VI) content, the radical degradation of organic pollutants was gradually restrained, but partially replaced by the accelerated oxidization of organics by Cr(VI). On the other hand, the Cr(VI) was mainly reduced to Cr (III) by the functional groups on biochar in the absence of organic pollutants. However, the coexisted organic pollutants could take the place of biochar to reduce Cr(VI), resulting in a slight change of Cr(VI) reduction. Further studies indicated that the defective sites on biochar could enhance the reaction between organic pollutants and Cr(VI). These findings are very much interesting and innovative in the ongoing biochar research and demonstrate a new dimension of biochar potential for detoxification of multiple industrial pollutants containing Cr(VI) and organics. Unlabelled Image • Biochar could degrade organic pollutants by activating O 2 to produce OH. • The degradation of organic pollutants was promoted by low contents of Cr(VI). • The reduction of Cr(VI) by biochar was promoted by organic pollutants. • Cr(VI) could react with organic pollutants via the mediation of biochar. • Defects of biochar facilitated the reaction between organic pollutants and Cr(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sociocultural determinants affect the physical and mental well-being and coping of individuals with chronic illnesses. However, no studies have examined the relationship of sociocultural determinants with psychological distress and coping. The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of psychological distress and coping among individuals with chronic illness and identify sociocultural determinants affecting distress and coping. A cross-sectional design was used. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 384 individuals admitted to inpatient settings and attending outpatient clinics at two tertiary care hospitals. The validated Urdu-translated version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Brief COPE scales were used for data collection. The mean HADS-Depression score was (11.38 ± 2.53), and the HADS-Anxiety score was 13.42 ± 2.34), indicating high levels of depression and anxiety. The most commonly used coping strategies were problem-focused coping (15.95 ± 4.95), followed by emotion-focused coping (15.01 ± 2.33), and avoidance coping (13.89 ± 4.77). Higher levels of psychological distress in individuals with chronic illnesses underscore the importance of implementing community-based support approaches. Varied use of coping strategies was influenced by the type of chronic illness, living conditions, educational level, years of living with a chronic illness, family dynamics, and available support systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circumferential resection margin (CRM) is a key quality metric and predictor of oncologic outcomes and overall survival following surgery for rectal cancer. We aimed to develop a nomogram to identify patients at risk for a positive CRM in the preoperative setting. We performed a retrospective evaluation of the National Cancer Database from 2010 to 2014 for patients with clinical stage I-III rectal cancer who underwent total mesorectal excision. Patients were excluded for emergency operation, resection for cancer recurrence, palliative resection, transanal resection, and missing CRM status. The primary outcome was positive CRM. Secondary outcomes included overall survival. There were 28,790 patients included. 2245 (7.8%) had a positive CRM. Higher tumor grade, lack of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, mucinous/signet tumor histology, open approach, abdominoperineal resection, higher T stage, lymphovascular invasion, and perineural invasion were all significantly associated with positive CRM (P < 0.05) and were included in the nomogram. The C-statistic was 0.703, suggesting a good predictive model. Positive CRM is associated with specific patient demographics and tumor characteristics. These factors can be used along with preoperative MRI to predict CRM positivity in the preoperative period and plan accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cu 2 O with different morphologies was applied for H 2 O 2 activation. • The cubic Cu 2 O showed the highest activity for TC degradation. • The surface oxygen species play an important role for H 2 O 2 adsorption. • Hydroxyl radicals, carbonate radicals and Cu(III) were the main active species. • Possible TC degradation mechanism was proposed. The design of efficient heterogeneous catalysts in bicarbonate-activated hydrogen peroxide systems (BAP) is a hot topic in wastewater treatment. In this work, Cu 2 O nanoparticles with different morphologies including cubic shape (c-Cu 2 O), octahedron shape (o-Cu 2 O) and spherical shape (s-Cu 2 O), were applied in BAP for the first time to degrade tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). Compared with Cu2+ ions and CuO, TC degradation was boosted in the presence of Cu 2 O in the BAP system, with the degradation rate following the order c-Cu 2 O > o-Cu 2 O > s-Cu 2 O. The morphology-dependent effects could be linearly correlated with the ratio of surface oxygen species (O S), but not with the surface area or Cu(I) ratio. The c-Cu 2 O catalyst with exposure of (100) facets contained 76.6% O S as the active site for H 2 O 2 adsorption and activation, while the value was much lower for o-Cu 2 O and s-Cu 2 O with dominant (111) facets. The presence of HCO 3 − enhanced the interactions among Cu 2 O, H 2 O 2 and TC, leading to facile oxidation of Cu(I) to Cu(II) by H 2 O 2 , and the formation of various reactive species such as hydroxyl radicals and Cu(III) contributed to TC degradation. This work provides a new method for enhancing H 2 O 2 activation with heterogeneous catalysts by crystal facet engineering. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A polarization-sensitive perfect plasmonic absorber composed of three functional layers is designed and numerically investigated for harvesting of solar energy. The top layer is composed of plasmonic triangular nanoparticles made of aluminum, the middle layer is made of dielectric, and the bottom layer is composed of thick aluminum foil. The dimensions of the absorber structure are carefully selected to exhibit broadband absorption in the visible region, where the electromagnetic energy is maximum. Several configurations of the top layer containing triangular nanoparticles are analyzed with a special emphasis on broadband absorption. It is found that one of the types of absorber structure absorbs more than 90% of incoming light with large spectral width at various regions in the visible and near-infrared regions. Moreover, the weighted mean values under the AM1.5 solar spectrum are also calculated, and high values are obtained, which shows that the proposed structure is most appropriate for thin-film solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Video cameras are among the most commonly used devices throughout the world which results in imaging technology being one of the most important areas for research and development. Imaging technology requires constant research as it is used in crucial applications such as video conferencing and surveillance. In the field of image processing, motion detection and estimation are fundamental steps in extracting information on objects segmented from their backgrounds. In this paper, a cohesive approach is presented that uses two algorithms for motion estimation and detection. The proposed method is able to detect moving objects using maximum average correlation height (MACH) filter. Upon obtaining the accurate coordinates of an object of interest from the MACH filter, the next part of the algorithm starts tracking the object. For tracking, a particle filter is used to estimate the motion of the object using a Markov chain. To enhance the accuracy of particle filter, an approximate proximal gradient algorithm is employed for unconstrained minimization of the particles which restricts the tracking process to target templates (most essential information) only. Finally, a comparison between the proposed algorithm and recent similar algorithms is made that demonstrates the minimization of tracking errors using the proposed technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite its profound impact on the oncologic outcomes of rectal cancer, the most optimal surgical approach to total mesorectal excision (TME) has not been identified yet. All previous meta-analyses on this subject have been based on observational studies. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the surgical and oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic TME (LaTME) compared to trans-anal TME (TaTME), utilizing only randomized controlled trials. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Methods: We searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Clinicaltials.gov) from 2010 onwards, for all published clinical trials comparing TaTME to LaTME. Results are presented as risk ratios, with 95% CI, and pooled using the random effects model. Results: A total of 1691 patients, from 6 eligible randomized controlled trials, were included for analysis. Analyzed data showed no significant difference in morbidity (RR: 0.85, p = 0.15), mortality (RR: 0.50, p = 0.44), conversion to open (RR: 0.40, p = 0.07), or anastomotic leakage (RR: 0.73, p = 0.10) between TaTME and LaTME. There was also no difference in the rate of positive distal resection margin (DRM) (RR: 0.55, p = 0.10) or positive circumferential resection margin (CRM) (RR: 0.67, p = 0.30). Patients undergoing TaTME were more likely to have a complete TME (RR: 1.06, p = 0.002) and shorter hospital stays (RR: − 0.97, p < 0.00001). Conclusions: Patients undergoing TaTME for rectal cancer were more likely to have a complete TME when compared to LaTME, though this did not translate into improved distal or circumferential resection margin. Additionally, TaTME and LaTME had similar surgical outcomes except for shorter length of stay with TaTME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report on 1-year postoperative visual outcome with the corneal cross linkage for unstable keratoconus patients. Material and methods: Thirty eyes of 15 patients with unstable keratoconus and myopia between 0.00 and 17.00 DS and astigmatism between 1:00 and 8:00 DS were analyzed in this prospective interventional study. The visual outcome was analyzed on the best possible refraction and topographic readings preoperative and post operative. Results: At 1-year follow-up, 45% had 20/20 vision or better and 100% had 20/40 or better uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA). Vector analysis of refractive astigmatism shows that the surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) (3.20 1.46 D) was not significantly different from the target induced astigmatism (TIA) (3.14, 1.42 D) (p=0.620). At 1 years postoperatively, none of the eyes showed a decrease in UCVA, in contrast to 24 eyes in which UCVA was increased by 1 lines, with contrast sensitivity and improvement in total aberrations and MTF value at 5 per degree (*p=0.004) after CXL surgery. The cumulative 1-year corneal endothelial cell loss was 5%. No patients reported dissatisfaction. At the end of followup, the vault was 658 + 54.33m (range, 500–711) and the intraocular pressure was 11.7 + 2.08 mm Hg. Occurrences of glare and night-driving troubles diminished after CXL surgery. Conclusion: The results of this prospective interventional study support corneal cross linkage for unstable keratoconus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In last few years frequent changes have been made in the learning of special educational systems. The motive behind these evolutionary amendments was the obligation of the people who had a support and are keen to go side by side with other people who are dedicated to work in other countries. These efforts are hampered by lack of data for policy planning to address the difficulties of the visually impaired students in special education schools. Objective: To determine the common difficulties faced by visually impaired students in blind schools of KPK province of Pakistan. Methods: It was a cross sectional study. Data was collected in blind schools of KPK province between April and December 2016. Seven Special education schools from seven districts were visited which were located in Peshawar, Swabi, Mardan, Swat, DI Khan and Abbottabad districts. Questionnaire containing likert scale was filled which had questions regarding satisfaction in mode of instruction, barriers in instruction and difficulties in orientation and mobility. Data was analyzed on SPSS version 20. Results: Out of 150 students with visual impairment interviewed 41 female and 109 male students. The mean age of the students in schools was 12.48 + 2.4 years. The sample includes 48 % students legally blind, 42% students partially sighted and 10% students were blind. The major difficulties faced include barriers in education, teacher's mode of instruction, mobility and orientation. Only 32% of the students were having teaching material in Braille. All of the students 100% did not have KPK text book in Braille. A good number 62% of the students did not have computer access in their schools. 86% were having an opinion that their teachers fully assess them in learning. 63% were reported that they do not feel comfortable in class environment during lessons and it need to be modified. 98% of the students hesitate to go to teacher's office when they were stuck, therefore teacher's student relation needs to be making comfortable. 54 % were of the opinion that the teaching material is not good enough. 52% were not given supportive transport for pick and drop. 71% reported that they did not have easy access to toilets in the school. A significant count of visually disable students 93% respondent reported that that they were deprived of specialized trainer. Conclusion: The visually impaired students of blind schools of KPK are facing problems such as barriers in acquisition of reading material in Braille, in soft and recorded form, some of the difficulties they were facing in mode of instruction and mobility and orientation. There is lack of stationeries (Braille printed books), lack of visual readers, teacher's vacant posts and difficulties in taking exams and transport etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate risk factors for dry eyes syndrome in a hospital based population. Material and Methods: It was a hospital based case-control study conducted in Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from January 2nd 2017 to June 30th 2017 in which age and sex matched population was enrolled with cases and controls of ratio 1:2 with 55 cases and 110 controls from the respective families. Both the cases and controls were thoroughly examined with the help of slit lamp and were under gone various ophthalmological tests for dry eyes (measurement of tear film breakup time, Schirmer test, and corneal fluorescein staining). The data including demographic characteristics and lifestyle habits were collected using a questionnaire. The results were analyzed by different statistical tests using SPSS version 20. Results: The risk factors showed significant association of dry eyes syndrome were the following with diabetes (odds ratio OR 1.608; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.003 to 1.9824), Conclusion: This hospital based case control study revealed that dry eyes syndrome has several exposures and were significantly associated with diabetes, post-traumatic stress disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the knowledge, attitude and practices in management of diabetes diabetic retinopathy in district, Peshawar. Material and Methods: In the periphery of rural areas of district Peshawar, 40 awareness raising seminars were conducted on diabetes and diabetic retinopathy where 25,135 individual. Systematic random sampling technique was used to fill the KAP questionnaire from every 8th individual. Total of 16,205 individual were labeled and responses were noted in the KAP questionnaire. The results were analyzed by different statistical tests (univariate and multiple regression) using SPSS version 20. Results: Among (n= 1605) individuals, 738 (45%) had some knowledge about Diabetes and 562 (35%) had some knowledge about Diabetic Retinopathy. Female had more knowledge about diabetes (OR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.65-2.19) and in those who belonged to the upper socioeconomic class (OR=2.43, 95% CI: 1.14-2.37). The knowledge about Diabetic retinopathy was significantly higher among subjects who spoke the local Pushto language (OR=4.28, 95% CI: 2.23-6.13), and in those who belonged to the upper socioeconomic class (OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.39-2.18). Compared with those who had no knowledge of Diabetic retinopathy (n = 1043), significant percentages of individuals with knowledge (n = 624) had the right attitude i-e to go to ophthalmologist for regular eye examinations - (60% vs 93%) (p<0.0001) ). Regarding practice patterns, only 34% of individuals with knowledge about DR believed that if they controlled their blood sugar, they could avoid a visit to an ophthalmologist, compared with 66% with no knowledge (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Comprehensive awareness raising seminars should be carried out throughout the community to educate the rural population to adopt health practices to manage diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the known advantages of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for diverticular disease, the impact of conversions to open (CtO) colectomy remains understudied. The present study used a nationally representative database to characterize risk factors and outcomes associated with CtO in patients with diverticular disease. Methods: All elective adult hospitalizations entailing colectomy for diverticulitis were identified in the 2017–2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Annual institutional caseloads of MIS and open colectomy were independently tabulated. Restricted cubic splines were utilized to non-linearly estimate the risk-adjusted association between hospital volumes and CtO. Additional regression models were developed to evaluate the association of CtO with outcomes of interest. Results: Of an estimated 110,281 patients with diverticulitis who met study criteria, 39.3% underwent planned open colectomy, 53.3% completed MIS, and 7.4% had a CtO. Following adjustment, an inverse relationship between hospital MIS volume and risk of CtO was observed. In contrast, increasing hospital open volume was positively associated with greater risk of CtO. On multivariable analysis, CtO was associated with lower odds of mortality (AOR 0.3, p = 0.001) when compared to open approach, and similar risk of mortality when compared to completed MIS (AOR 0.7, p = 0.436). Conclusion: In the present study, institutional MIS volume exhibited inverse correlation with adjusted rates of CtO, independent of open colectomy volume. CtO was associated with decreased rates of mortality compared to planned open approach but equivalence risk relative to completed MIS. Our findings highlight the importance of MIS experience and suggest that MIS may be safely pursued as the initial surgical approach among diverticulitis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a necrotizing vasculitis commonly affecting small-sized vessels and medium-sized vessels. We present the case of surgical resection for ischemic colitis secondary to PAN. A 26-year-old woman presented with left lower quadrant pain, diarrhea and bloody stools. Colonoscopy showed diffuse circumferential ulceration and necrotic lining from the sigmoid colon to the splenic flexure. A subsequent computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed left colonic wall thickening, hypoenhancement and multiple inferior mesenteric artery aneurysms, concerning for vasculitis. Ensuing laboratory workup all returned negative. Worsening pain, left-sided peritonitis, tachycardia and rising white blood cell necessitated a colectomy from the proximal descending to upper rectum with an end colostomy. Surgical pathology showed features consistent with PAN. The patient improved significantly after surgery and was discharged on a steroid taper and later started on mycophenolate mofetil. This case is a unique presentation of isolated large intestinal involvement and was treated with both medical and surgical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetraploid Robinia pseudoacacia L. is a difficult-to-root species, and is vegetatively propagated through stem cuttings. Limited information is available regarding the adventitious root (AR) formation of dark-pretreated micro-shoot cuttings. Moreover, the role of specific miRNAs and their targeted genes during dark-pretreated AR formation under in vitro conditions has never been revealed. The dark pretreatment has successfully promoted and stimulated adventitious rooting signaling-related genes in tissue-cultured stem cuttings with the application of auxin (0.2 mg L−1 IBA). Histological analysis was performed for AR formation at 0, 12, 36, 48, and 72 h after excision (HAE) of the cuttings. The first histological events were observed at 36 HAE in the dark-pretreated cuttings; however, no cellular activities were observed in the control cuttings. In addition, the present study aimed to uncover the role of differentially expressed (DE) microRNAs (miRNAs) and their targeted genes during adventitious root formation using the lower portion (1–1.5 cm) of tetraploid R. pseudoacacia L. micro-shoot cuttings. The samples were analyzed using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology for the identification of miRNAs at the mentioned time points. Seven DE miRNA libraries were constructed and sequenced. The DE number of 81, 162, 153, 154, 41, 9, and 77 miRNAs were upregulated, whereas 67, 98, 84, 116, 19, 16, and 93 miRNAs were downregulated in the following comparisons of the libraries: 0-vs-12, 0-vs-36, 0-vs-48, 0-vs-72, 12-vs-36, 36-vs-48, and 48-vs-72, respectively. Furthermore, we depicted an association between ten miRNAs (novel-m0778-3p, miR6135e.2-5p, miR477-3p, miR4416c-5p, miR946d, miR398b, miR389a-3p, novel m0068-5p, novel-m0650-3p, and novel-m0560-3p) and important target genes (auxin response factor-3, gretchen hagen-9, scarecrow-like-1, squamosa promoter-binding protein-like-12, small auxin upregulated RNA-70, binding protein-9, vacuolar invertase-1, starch synthase-3, sucrose synthase-3, probable starch synthase-3, cell wall invertase-4, and trehalose phosphatase synthase-5), all of which play a role in plant hormone signaling and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the relative expression of these miRNAs and their targeted genes. These results provide novel insights and a foundation for further studies to elucidate the molecular factors and processes controlling AR formation in woody plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the photogeneration of OH and 1O 2 and the degradation mechanism of organic pollutants in biochar suspension under the simulated solar light irradiations were investigated. Biochar derived from rice husk with 550 °C of charring temperature (R550) was selected to degrade benzoic acid. It was found that 10 g/L of R550 could degrade 78.7% of benzoic acid within 360 min at pH 3, and the degradation efficiency was promoted to 95.2% as ultraviolet (UV) presented. By checking the production of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, UV accelerated the production of OH, which was confirmed by the enhanced degradation efficiency of 59.2% caused by the evaluated OH as UV appeared. The furfuryl alcohol loss in the R550 suspension under light irradiations testified to the production of 1O 2 , which contributed to 9.3% of benzoic acid degradation. Oxidization treatment using gradient concentrations of H 2 O 2 was employed to enhance the ageing process of biochar. As the ageing processed, the biochar possessed a declined performance towards OH production from O 2 activation and the radical degradation of organic pollutants. As a contrast, the evaluated content of 1O 2 and enhanced non-radical degradation of organic pollutants was reached as UV presented. The further study indicated that phenolic hydroxyl groups on biochar facilitated the production of OH via the electron transfer, and quinone like structures (C=O) on biochar boosted the generation of 1O 2 via the energy transfer. Moreover, upon eliminating the BA degradation, persistent free radicals were formed on biochar, which was enhanced owing to the presence of UV. Unlabelled Image • Degradation of organic contaminants by biochar was enhanced by UV. • UV triggered the production of OH and 1O 2 from biochar suspension. • Quinone-type structures on biochar induced the production of 1O 2. • The ageing favored the production of 1O 2 under light irradiations. • The ageing retarded OH formation and radical degradation of organic contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Quenching induced Co ions doping to tailor surface structure of MnO 2. • The overlap between the Mn 3d and O 2p band was used as activity descriptor. • The Co ions doping helped to resolve the Mn4+/Mn3+ thermodynamically problem. Controlling the electronic structure of the active centre through ion doping modulation has been widely recognized as an effective means to enhance catalytic activity, particularly for MnO 2 -based catalysts. However, existing models fail to fully elucidate the underlying mechanism behind this phenomenon. Here, we utilizes the quenching route to synthesize a variety of MnO 2 -based catalysts (named as Co-MnO 2 -Q) with different Co content, aiming to investigate the catalytic mechanism of MnO 2 in activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and establish a correlation between its electronic structure and catalytic activity. Notably, the optimal catalyst (Co-MnO 2 -Q3) exhibited a rate constant (k obs) for Levofloxacin (LEVO) removal up to 0.105 min−1, which is eight times higher than that of pure MnO 2 (0.013 min−1). Experimental and density functional theory (DFT) investigations have demonstrated that the adsorption of PMS on the constructed catalyst models is an exothermic process, which occurs spontaneously and effectively elongates the O–O bond. Meanwhile, DFT calculations reveal a positive correlation between Co-doped catalyst activity and upward shift of Mn 3d and O 2p band centres. Essentially, Co doping enhances the covalency of Mn–O bonds and increases electron density levels near the Fermi energy, thereby facilitating electron transfer from Mn sites to adsorbed PMS molecules and accelerating both PMS activation and catalytic degradation reactions. This study successfully establishes a descriptor that effectively characterizes the intrinsic activity enhancement of MnO 2 -based catalysts, providing valuable guidance for designing more advanced catalytic systems based on MnO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Due to the exponential rise in the number of subscribers in existing wireless networks, energy‐efficient distribution and utilization of network resources have become the preliminary objective of researchers nowadays. Nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has attained widespread significance in this regard and has become a strong candidate for enhancing energy efficiency (EE) performance of existing networks. Multicarrier NOMA (MC‐NOMA) technique is an extension of NOMA that breaks the available resource block into various subchannels and allocates them efficiently to NOMA users (NUs). MC‐NOMA networks have the ability to further enhance system performance by efficiently exploiting channel diversity for addressing the problems of spectral inefficiency and power limitations. Therefore, in this paper, we have considered MC‐NOMA technology for an uplink scenario to investigate its performance for enhancing system EE by performing energy‐efficient power and subchannel allocation. To this end, we have formulated a joint user clustering, subchannel allocation, and power allocation problem for EE maximization (JSPEE) of uplink MC‐NOMA scenario. Due to the nonconvex, combinatorial nature of the problem, we propose a two‐step solution: that is, for each subchannel, first, subchannel allocation and user clustering are attained through low‐complexity suboptimal algorithm, which is followed by energy‐efficient power allocation of NUs. For subchannel allocation and user clustering, we exploit the channel diversity in the form of difference in channel gain values of various users. For power allocation, the nonconvex nature of the formulated problem is tackled by employing Dinkelbach and successive convex approximation (SCA) techniques to attain an energy‐efficient solution. Our simulation results portray that the JSPEE algorithm clearly outperforms the current NOMA as well as OMA works and enhances the system EE by efficient user clustering and exploiting channel diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the methanolic extract of Raphanus sativus (RSME) seeds was evaluated for its protective effect against CCl4-induced nephrotoxicity. The treatment of Swiss albino rats with intraperitoneal injections of CCl4 (1 ml/kg body weight) on alternate days for 30 days decreased the antioxidant enzymes, while lipid peroxidation and serum toxicity markers were increased. These changes were reversed in the animals receiving an oral dose of RSME (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) along with CCl4, thus increasing the level of antioxidant enzymes and decreasing serum toxicity markers and thus ameliorating the toxic effect of CCl4. These results show that seed extract of R. sativus can reciprocate the toxic effects of CCl4 and can be used to make a chemopreventive drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel metal-free nitrogen doped carbon material was synthesized by post doping of nitrogen (different amounts of melamine) into carbon substrate derived from glucose, at 550 °C under nitrogen protection. Despite the optimized catalyst has a low nitrogen content of 2.16%, it could effectively activate PMS and exhibited an excellent catalytic performance for phenol degradation with an exceptionally low activation energy. Experiments showed the degradation rates of phenol by the catalyst upon N-doped was 29 times higher than that by carbon substrate, and the reaction pathway of PMS activated transformed from free-radical pathway of carbon substrate to non-radical process. Further, all experimental and theoretical investigations demonstrated the critical role of pyrrolic –N in carbonaceous material to the PMS activation for the first time, which attracts the electrophilic species of PMS and drives the electron transfer towards PMS, thereby the performance of the catalysis was enhanced. The catalytic process performed on various aromatic compounds with different substituents showed a selective degradation dependent on ionization potential (IP). The simple and economical preparation method and the efficiency of the catalyst developed in the study make the activation toward PMS a viable approach for a practical large-scale industrial application. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird predation during seed maturation causes great loss to agricultural production. In this study, through GWAS analysis of a large-scale sorghum germplasm diversity panel, we identified that Tannin1 , which encodes a WD40 protein functioning in the WD40/MYB/bHLH complex, controls bird feeding behavior in sorghum. Metabolic profiling analysis showed that a group of sorghum accessions preferred by birds contain mutated tan1-a / b alleles and accumulate significantly lower levels of anthocyanins and condensed tannin compounds. In contrast, a variety of aromatic and fatty acid-derived volatiles accumulate at significantly higher levels in these bird-preference accessions. We subsequently conducted both sparrow feeding and sparrow volatile attractant assays, which confirmed, respectively, the antifeedant and attractant functions of these differentially accumulated metabolites. In addition, the connection between the biosynthesis pathway of anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin and the pathway of fatty acid–derived volatile biosynthesis was demonstrated by discovering that Tannin1 complex modulates fatty acid biosynthesis by regulating the expression of SbGL2 in sorghum, thus affecting the accumulation of fatty acid-derived volatiles. Taken together, our study identified Tannin1 as the gene underlying the major locus controlling bird feeding behavior in sorghum, illustrating an example of the identification of an ecologically impactful molecular mechanism from field observation and providing significant insights into the chemistry of bird–plant ecological interactions. This study identified that Tannin1 , which encodes a WD40 protein functioning in the WD40/MYB/bHLH complex, control bird feeding behavior in sorghum. Tannin1 was found to differentially modulate the biosynthesis of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins as well as the accumulation of fatty acid-derived volatiles, providing significant insights into the chemistry of bird–plant ecological interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Now days, distribution system has experienced numerous significant changes due to the implementation of smart grid technology and integration of distributed and renewable energy resources. Optimal integration of distributed generators and reconfiguration of the radial network have overall positive impacts on the power system. In this paper our aim is to minimize line losses and total harmonic distortion (THD), and to improve the voltage profile of the system by optimal placement and sizing of distributed generators and optimal reconfiguration of the network simultaneously. The impact of total harmonic distortion on power factor is also evaluated in this paper. Genetic algorithm is used as a solving tool to find optimal size of distributed generators and optimal reconfiguration of the network in a varying load environment. Placement buses for distributed generators are found by sensitivity analysis of the network. Fast harmonic load flow analysis and forward/backward sweep methods based on bus current injection to branch current (BIBC) matrix and branch current to bus voltage (BCBV) matrix are developed according to the network topology. The methodology is executed on IEEE-33 bus radial distribution system and the results shows its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Quenching induced the transition of facets and Cu/Co ions co-doping to catch two birds with one stone. • The d – band centre was used as a descriptor of catalytic activity. • The structure modifications induced by quenching could help to resolve the reduction of Mn4+ to Mn3+ thermodynamically problem. Modifying the surface structure of catalysts is critical for facilitating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. Here, we present a quenching approach to effectively modify the surface chemistry of LaMnO 3 nanocatalysts, in which the optimal catalyst obtained by quenching displays higher catalytic degradation performance for levofloxacin (LEVO). The experimental results demonstrates that the increased intrinsic catalytic activity is directly connected to the quenching-induced exposed facets transition and synergistic effect of Cu/Co ions. Meanwhile, density functional theory calculations (DFT) further reveal the aforementioned modifications to surface structure result in an upward shift of d-band centre, which optimizes the adsorption of PMS and makes it easier for the transfer of electron between Mn sites and PMS, thereby facilitating the reduction of Mn4+ and enhancing catalytic activity for PMS activation and LEVO degradation. This study presents new ideas for controlling surface structure of perovskite metal oxide catalysts and broadens applicability of quenching chemistry in heterogeneous catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of green and efficient heterogeneous catalysts for permanganate (Mn(VII)) activation remains unexplored. Given the different roles of crystal structures of MnO 2 in many applications, it is of great significance to investigate the reactivity of MnO 2 with different phases for Mn(VII) activation. In this study, it was found that the first-order rate constants for phenol degradation in the presence of 100 μM Mn(VII) follow an order of α-MnO 2 (0.0884 min−1) > δ-MnO 2 (0.0746 min−1) > β-MnO 2 (0.0417 min−1) > γ-MnO 2 (0.0396 min−1). The fact is in line with Mn(VII) adsorption, which can be related closely to the surface area, pore diameter, and isoelectric points of the catalysts. Other phenolic contaminants such as parachlorophenol and bisphenol A were also degraded efficiently by the Mn(VII)/α-MnO 2 system. After coordination with surface Mn species in MnO 2 , the Mn–O bond of Mn(VII) is stretched with an increase in electron transfer reactivity and a decrease in oxygen atom transfer ability. A surface-promoted electron transfer process is then proposed for phenol degradation by the system. A good adaptability and reusability of the Mn(VII)/α-MnO 2 system were observed. The influence of several parameters and comparisons with other catalysts were also studied. This work provides insights into the phase-dependent reactivity of MnO 2 catalysts for Mn(VII) activation and pollutant degradation. [Display omitted] • MnO 2 structures affected Mn(VII) adsorption and phenol degradation. • The high surface areas, pore diameters, and isoelectric points were important. • The OAT reactivity of adsorped Mn(VII) decreased and ET reactivity increased. • Direct ET mechanism played a significant role in phenol degradation. • The MnO 2 catalyst showed good reusability during successive runs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new strategies to improve the removal of organic pollutants with permanganate (KMnO 4) is a hot topic in water treatment. While Mn oxides have been extensively used in Advanced Oxidation Processes through an electron transfer mechanism, the field of KMnO 4 activation remains relatively unexplored. Interestingly, this study has discovered that Mn oxides with high oxidation states including γ-MnOOH, α-Mn 2 O 3 and α-MnO 2 , exhibited excellent performance to degrade phenols and antibiotics in the presence of KMnO 4. The MnO 4 - species initially formed stable complexes with the surface Mn(III/IV) species and showed an increased oxidation potential and electron transfer reactivity, caused by the electron-withdrawing capacity of the Mn species acting as Lewis acids. Conversely, for MnO and γ-Mn 3 O 4 with Mn(II) species, they reacted with KMnO 4 to produce cMnO 2 with very low activity for phenol degradation. The direct electron transfer mechanism in α-MnO 2 /KMnO 4 system was further confirmed through the inhibiting effect of acetonitrile and the galvanic oxidation process. Moreover, the adaptability and reusability of α-MnO 2 in complicated waters indicated its potential for application in water treatment. Overall, the findings shed light on the development of Mn-based catalysts for organic pollutants degradation via KMnO 4 activation and understanding of the surface-promoted mechanism. [Display omitted] • Mn oxides with high oxidation states exhibited higher activity for KMnO 4 activation. • Mn(II) species in MnO reacted with KMnO 4 to produce cMnO 2. • KMnO 4 can form stable complexes with the surface Mn(III/IV) species. • The oxidation potential and ET reactivity of adsorbed KMnO 4 increased. • Direct ET mechanism played a significant role in phenol degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]