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Reliable nanoswitch operation requires low contact voltages and stable electrical contact resistance (E C R). Surface cleanliness is crucial to prevent nanomechanical switch failure, which can occur due to the presence of insulating adventitious hydrocarbon films. In situ O2 plasma cleaning is effective but oxidizes metal surfaces. Here, the noble metal Pt, which forms PtOx, is employed to form electrodes. Previous studies report on PtOx electrical resistivity, but the effects of PtOx evolution at contacting interfaces due to electrical and mechanical stimuli have not been explored. This study investigates the impact of PtOx on E C R at low contact voltages under hot switching, cold switching, and mechanical cycling conditions. An increase in E C R upon plasma cleaning indicates the presence of a resistive PtOx layer. After hot and cold switch cycling at applied voltages of 300 mV or less, a low stable E C R is achieved. A higher contact voltage accelerates E C R stabilization. The results are consistent with PtOx film volatilization, which is primarily due to Joule heating rather than mechanical rupture. This investigation advances the understanding of interface evolution in plasma-cleaned nanoswitches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear stability analysis of the steady flow past elliptic cylinders of different aspect ratio (A r) has been conducted for the flow Reynolds number (R e) in the range 30–200. A new unstable mode, which we refer as tertiary wake mode, has been discovered. Two other unstable modes (the primary wake mode and the secondary wake mode), already reported in the literature, are also found. The critical R e for the onset of instability of these modes and the corresponding Strouhal number (S t) have been reported. Modes that have large growth rates tend to come close to the cylinder surface, and the extent to which they spread downstream in the wake is less compared to the weaker modes. The size of the vortical structures in a mode is inversely related to its S t. The change in the characteristics of these modes with respect to change in A r and R e , as well as their evolution leading to the fully developed flow, has been studied. Selective suppression of the unstable modes is effected using a slip-plate placed on the wake centerline. For R e = 150, it is shown that selective suppression of the unstable modes leads to different fully developed unsteady flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the salp swarm optimization algorithm (SSOA)-based novel model reduction algorithm for simplifying commensurate and incommensurate fractional-order systems. In the case of commensurate fractional-order systems (CFOSs), the presented method converts it into a non-fractional-order system first. Then, we implement the SSOA with the stability equations to find a non-fractional-order approximant. Finally, the non-fractional-order approximant is transformed to determine the proposed reduced-order CFOS. It is also demonstrated using numerical examples that some existing methods fail to achieve the stability claim. On the other hand, the stability of the proposed fractional-order approximants is ascertained by incorporating stability equations along with SSOA. Further, the proposed method is extended for the model reduction in incommensurate and unstable fractional-order systems. In this case, the Oustaloup approximation is used along with the SSOA and stability equations to obtain the proposed non-fractional-order approximation. The simulation results corroborate the performance of the suggested method in both cases and establish its transcendency. The obtained results showcase the efficacy of optimization in simplification of fractional-order systems. The work also highlights the importance of order reduction in practical engineering and scientific applications of fractional-order systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this manuscript is to introduce the notion of multiplicative 픪 -metric space, inspired by the concepts of multiplicative metric space and 픪 -metric space. We propose a generalized notion of the distance function known as the multiplicative 픪 -metric. Firstly, we present the fundamental definitions for the multiplicative 픪 -metric space, then delve into the topological aspects, including the convergence of sequences and completeness. Additionally, we provide various illustrations to support our discussion. We also generalize some well-known contraction mappings and prove fixed point theorems on the complete multiplicative 픪 -metric space. To complement our findings, we have included numerical results along with graphs to provide visual support for our conclusions. Furthermore, we explore the potential of utilizing the multiplicative 픪 -metric to demonstrate the existence of the solution to a multiplicative integral equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) has significant potential as a biomarker for diagnosis of ovarian cancer in female patients because it is present throughout all phases of the illness. Regrettably, there is not a clinically useful test for this biomarker yet. In this work, an ultra‐detection of LPA molecule by Raman spectroscopy‐based molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) in serum samples is reported. β‐CD was synthesized to facilitate the collection of Raman spectroscopy and combined with MIP to denote it as β‐CD‐MIP for the adsorption of LPA with high sensitivity and selectivity. Linear regression model in serum samples shows peaks at 1100 and 1116 cm−1, respectively. A satisfactory linear fit was seen with LPA concentration log I = 3.7 log C + 1255.74 and with spiked serum log I = 4.6 log C + 327.22, respectively. The literature survey suggests the threshold LPA level in healthy person is 1.50 μM/L whereas the LPA level rises in patients with benign ovarian cancer tumor as 7.90 μM/L. This LPA level rises to 16.99 μM/L in ovarian cancer patients. On the basis of the band intensity, the limit of detection of the β‐CD‐MIP sensor for LPA was recorded as 0.003 μM/L. The binding constant of β‐CD‐MIP for LPA in serum was 0.031–0.003 μM/L, respectively. β‐CD‐MIP gel was optimized, characterized, and successfully applied on spiked serum samples. The findings of this research show that this substrate has a lot of potential for ultradetection of trace amounts of LPA molecule from the serum samples. The MIP sensor is robust, recyclable, efficient, and selective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies on wrinkling, an instability phenomenon commonly observed on electro-active polymers (EAP), have largely ignored the unequal-biaxial taut states, focusing instead on the equal-biaxial deformations of such a material class. EAP-based soft actuators, primarily used in soft robotics, frequently exhibit a variety of instabilities, which may adversely affect their functioning and trigger device failure. Conversely, wrinkles can be utilized proactively in specific applications that necessitate an intentional transformation in surface morphology along with functional particle reinforcement on EAP composites. The dielectric elastomer is a promising EAP material class for the same, often filled with functional particles to improve its electromechanical performance. This paper theoretically develops a continuum physics-based unequal-biaxial deformation model incorporating the classical tension field theory to predict the thresholds on the taut domains in the plane of principal stretches. The model solution ties an unanswered ideal remark on the deviations of taut states with the biaxiality ratio of unequal-biaxially deformed wrinkle appearance in EAP composites. The proposed model solution may aid in designing next-generation soft robotic systems by offering guidelines for the wrinkling control of EAP composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this model, we have examined the problem of plane wave reflection and transmission occurring at the interface between two distinct nonlocal triclinic micropolar generalized thermoelastic half-spaces. It is evident that when an incident quasi-P ( q P ) wave encounters the interface between two dissimilar half-spaces, distinct waves emerges in the form of reflected and transmitted coupled quasi-P (C qP) , coupled quasi-SV (C qSV) , coupled quasi-SH (C qSH) , coupled quasi-thermal (C qT) , and coupled quasi-transverse micro-rotational (C qTM) waves, each possessing unique phase speed. Through the imposition of appropriate boundary conditions, we have derived the expressions for phase speed, reflection/transmission coefficients and energy ratios associated with the reflected and transmitted waves which depends on the nonlocal and micro-polar parameter, elastic properties of material and incident angle. To gain the behaviour of these parameters on reflection and transmission phenomena, we have conducted numerical simulations using MATLAB programming. The results have been presented graphically which provides a visual representation of nonlocal and micropolar parameters on phase speed and reflection/transmission coefficients as well as on the energy ratios of different waves under dual phase lag (DPL) and Lord–Shulman (LS) theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present upper-crustal P- and S-wave velocity models ( V P and V S ) of the Archean Dharwar Province in southern India using both refraction and reflection phases of the 3-C seismic data along NE-SW-oriented 200-km long Perur–Chikmagalur profile. The velocity models reveal alternate horst and graben structures at shallow depth (0.5–2.5 km) filled with weathered volcano–sedimentary rocks toward Western Dharwar Craton (WDC) having low V P (5.20–5.58 km/s), V S (3.20–3.32 km/s), V P / V S (1.63–1.68) and Poisson's ratio σ (0.20–0.25) as compared to exposed granite and gneissic rocks of increased velocity along Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC). The steeply dipping Chitradurga Shear Zone (CSZ) imaged extends to 6–8 km depth with anomalously high V P (6.85 km/s), V S (3.80 km/s), V P / V S (1.80) and σ (0.28) comprising of deep crustal rocks impounded at shallow level. The complex suturing and oblique convergence occurred along CSZ with distinct compositions because of the shearing and transpression of EDC and WDC followed by compression and inter-wedging of the two blocks. The compositions of Neoarchean EDC are mainly felsic granites having relatively low V P (6.25–6.30 km/s) and V S (3.53–3.62 km/s). On the other hand, the Mesoarchean WDC is dominated by gneisses and green schists mainly corresponds to mafic and ultramafic compositions having comparatively higher V P (6.30–6.85 km/s) and V S (3.55–3.80 km/s) with corresponding variations of V P / V S (1.74–1.77), σ (0.26–0.27) for EDC and V P / V S (1.73–1.80), σ (0.25–0.28) for WDC. A distinct zone of detachment imaged at 3–11 km depth acts as a major unconformity having eastward-dipping low-velocity-layer (LVL) sandwiching Dharwar schist belts and Archean gneisses within the upper crust forming a complex Archean Province of southern India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Obesity and metabolic syndrome are major drivers of metabolic liver disease and liver cancer. While caloric restriction can abrogate many of the deleterious effects of obesity, weight loss through dieting is not sustainable in the general population. We have investigated whether an alternative approach limiting the window of eating, rather than the caloric content, could have similar beneficial effects. We found that restricting food intake to an eight-hour window during the active phase improved liver metabolism and reduced liver cancer in preclinical models of obesity-driven liver cancer. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has surpassed the hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus as the leading cause of chronic liver disease in most parts of the Western world. MASLD (formerly known as NAFLD) encompasses both simple steatosis and more aggressive metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which is accompanied by inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, and ultimately can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There are currently very few approved therapies for MASH. Weight loss strategies such as caloric restriction can ameliorate the harmful metabolic effect of MASH and inhibit HCC; however, it is difficult to implement and maintain in daily life, especially in individuals diagnosed with HCC. In this study, we tested a time-restricted feeding (TRF) nutritional intervention in mouse models of MASH and HCC. We show that TRF abrogated metabolic dysregulation induced by a Western diet without any calorie restriction or weight loss. TRF improved insulin sensitivity and reduced hyperinsulinemia, liver steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Importantly, TRF inhibited liver tumors in two mouse models of obesity-driven HCC. Our data suggest that TRF is likely to be effective in abrogating MASH and HCC and warrant further studies of time-restricted eating in humans with MASH who are at higher risk of developing HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper points out that the commonly used normalized frequency for noncircular dielectric waveguides, which is based on the semiminor axis, causes the cross‐sectional area to vary with the cross‐sectional shape. Consequently, the shape effects described with the conventional normalized frequency are not due to the shape alone but the combined effects of the shape and area. Our numerical results show that the area effect is greater than the shape effect. An improved definition of normalized frequency based on an equivalent radius is proposed in this paper. Conversion formulas to convert from the conventional normalized frequency to the proposed normalized frequency are provided for elliptical and rectangular waveguides. Our numerical results show that the shape effects described by the proposed normalized frequency are free from the area effect. Consequently, the proposed normalized frequency is more accurate than the conventional normalized frequency in describing the shape effect of noncircular dielectric waveguides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modified smooth exterior scaling (MSES) method is an efficient method to impose outgoing boundary conditions in electron–atom or electron–molecule scatterings. MSES can be used to convert divergent wave functions to square integrable ones. The electron propagator method in conjunction with MSES has been utilized to characterize 2S Be+ (1s−1), 2S Ne+ (1s−1) Auger and 2P Be− shape resonances. The dilated electron propagator has been proved to be an efficient and powerful tool in characterizing the Auger and shape resonances. The resonance energies obtained by using this method are in good agreement with experimental results and other theoretical estimates available in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current highly integrated devices require heat interface materials with excellent heat conductivity. A simple approach was employed to synthesize thermally conductive and outstanding thermal stability nanocomposite. Calcium carbonate nanoparticles (nano CaCO 3) reinforced with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanoparticles (rGO/CaCO 3) are synthesized using a novel process, and the effect of rGO in CaCO 3 structure is examined by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope, X-ray diffraction, TGA-DTA, and thermal conductivity. The experimental results show that adding rGO resulted in higher crystallinity and thermal stability. As the wt.% of rGO increases from 1 to 5%, the crystallite size was suppressed by 21.06%, 27.39%, 32.48%, 41.5%, and 45.30%, respectively, compared to the pure nano-CaCO 3. Additionally, rGO enhances the thermal conductivity by 35.31% and thermal diffusivity to 1.834 mm2/s by adding 5% rGO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is observed that the reduced-order models (ROMs) by some existing limited Gramians-based techniques deviate significantly from the high-order model, resulting in a large approximation inaccuracy. Therefore, this paper introduces a novel solution for finite-frequency model reduction using new frequency-weighted Gramians by employing balanced truncation. This work provides a novel structure of fictitious input and output matrices, resulting in the proposed continuous-time system Gramians. The suggested strategy provides stable ROMs even when input and output weightings are incorporated into the system. Furthermore, the proposed approach is extended with the frequency-interval Gramians, ensuring stable ROMs. The proposed simulation outcomes are compared with other well-known frequency-weighted and frequency-interval Gramians-based techniques using numerical examples to demonstrate the efficacy of the suggested strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non-homogeneous mixed local and nonlocal problem in divergence form is investigated for the validity of the global Calderón–Zygmund estimate for the weak solution to the Dirichlet problem of a nonlinear elliptic equation. We establish an optimal Calderón–Zygmund theory by finding not only a minimal regularity requirement on the mixed local and nonlocal operators but also a lower level of geometric assumption on the boundary of the domain for the global gradient estimate. More precisely, assuming that the nonlinearity of the local operator, whose prototype is the classical (- Δ p) 1 -Laplace operator with 1 < p < ∞ , is measurable in one variable and has a small BMO assumption for the other variables, while the singular kernel associated with the nonlocal (- Δ q) s -Laplace operator with 0 < s < 1 < q < ∞ is merely measurable, and that the boundary of the domain is sufficiently flat in Reifenberg sense, we prove that the gradient of the solution is as integrable as that of the associated non-homogeneous term in the divergence form. Our regularity theory reported here could be a nice addition for higher integrability of the gradient to the Hölder continuity of the gradient in De Filippis and Mingione (Math Ann https://doi.org/10.1007/s00208-022-02512-7, 2022) regarding mixed local and nonlocal problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple active waveguide systems are examined on a universal testing machine (UTM) for their acoustic emission (AE) behavior and correlated with its deformation dynamics. We have experimented with 04 waveguide centrals designed using steel and aluminum, and considering both resonant and broadband AE sensors. The AE characteristics of an active waveguide system (AWS) are observed for various compression loads at different deformation rates ranging from 0.5 to 10 mm/min and optimize a deformation velocity of 1 mm/min as the threshold level. Multiple AE signal parameters including counts, signal duration, energy, signal strength, and their derived parameters have been instrumentalized to indicate the breaching of the threshold slope mass deformation rate. The AE signal parameters are analyzed with respect to the rate and magnitude of the deformation. To validate the results obtained on the UTM, an artificial soil slope is created in the laboratory and preliminary results are in consistency with UTM results. The threshold deformation rate could be implemented in engineering the AE technology-based landslide early warning system, under various site conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To control unstable and stable plants a new series cascade control structure (SCCS) is proposed. The proposed SCCS incorporates two or three controllers (setpoint tracking controller, secondary disturbance rejection controller and stabilising controller for only unstable plants). Internal model control scheme (IMCS) augmented with integration of square error (ISE) minimisation along with robustness considerations are applied to design the secondary loop disturbance rejection controller. In contrast, relocated IMCS augmented with ISE minimisation is applied for the outer loop or setpoint tracking controller. Routh Hurwitz stability criteria and maximum sensitivity considerations are used to design the proportional-derivative (PD) controller, which stabilises the unstable plant. It is important to note that the suggested SCCS only needs four controller parameters to be tuned, which is less than the recently reported techniques. Robust stability analysis of the proposed SCCS is performed in the presence of uncertainty. The simulation results depict that the suggested approach imparts pre-eminent improvement in closed-loop performance such as faster setpoint tracking and better disturbance rejection for nominal and perturbed plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deformation‐induced mechanisms, namely, transformation‐induced plasticity (TRIP) and twinning‐induced plasticity (TWIP), are primarily responsible for improved tensile properties in medium‐Mn steels. Additionally, lower density and processing costs make these steels useful in various industries, particularly the automotive industry, which mandates a good understanding of underlying processing–microstructure–property correlations. Therefore, the present study reviews different thermomechanical processes and corresponding microstructural evolutions, followed by mechanical properties. In addition, an assessment of the fatigue behavior of medium‐Mn steels based on duplex or multiphase microstructure and associated mechanisms has been presented. In high‐cycle fatigue (HCF) loading, strain‐induced martensite formation through TRIP at the crack tip is a barrier to dislocation motion. It deviates the crack propagation path to adjacent phases, which results in higher fatigue life. On the other hand, relatively high martensite boundaries initiate microcracks and accelerate crack propagation, resulting in lower life in low‐cycle fatigue (LCF). However, the TWIP mechanism prevents cyclic softening and promotes cyclic saturation, extending fatigue life. The compositions of medium‐Mn steel for enhanced fatigue resistance have been proposed. To that end, it is hypothesized that the TRIP + TWIP mechanisms lead to exceptional LCF performance. Further, microalloyed medium‐Mn steels are expected to exhibit improved LCF and HCF behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Surgical site infection (SSI) is still a common and widespread disease that leads to severe morbidity and death, longer hospital stays, and ultimately higher healthcare costs. P.aeruginosa clinical isolates have been shown to express the virulent gene Exo T, which is significant in the aetiology of infection. The current study aimed to identify the resistance gene Exo T gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to ascertain the prevalence of SSI and associated risk factors among those who had undergone any type of surgical operation. Aim and Objective: To Study the Prevalence, Risk Factors of Surgical Site Infections and the Molecular Characterization of Exo T gene in Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa patients at a Tertiary Care Centre, India. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a hospital setting over the period of 1 year i.e., August 2022 to August 2023 at a Tertiary Care Centre. All surgically treated adult patients of both sexes who were older than 16 years old were included. Patients who received a second surgery at the same location for any reason, patients receiving immunosuppressant medication, people with immunodeficiency diseases, people currently taking antibiotics, and people with infections elsewhere were all disqualified from participating. If there was signs of a wound infection 48 hours after surgery, the patient was diagnosed with SSI. The DNA was extracted using the Qiagen DNA Extraction kit and the resistant gene Exo T was detected using the conventional PCR. Results: In the present study a total of 170 patients underwent different types of surgeries. The prevalence of SSIs during the study period was 8.2%. SSIs were more common in abdominal surgeries with the Males (64.2%) have a higher risk of getting SSI than females (35.7%). Patients who underwent emergency surgery have a higher risk of getting SSI than those who underwent elective surgery. Those with diabetes had a higher risk of getting SSI than those who were nondiabetics. In the present study it was also observed that Klebsiella pneumoniae (28.5%) was the most common isolate followed by E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa with 21.4%, S.aureus with 14.25% and least for Staphylococcus epidermitidis and Klebsiella oxytoca with 7.14%. It was observed that the site of the infection most common affected was the superficial site with 57.1%. The Molecular characterization confirms that out of 3 Pseudomonas 2 showed the presence of Exo T gene (66.6%). Conclusion: SSIs were more likely to follow abdominal operations. Patients who were male, in the 30-year-old age range, had emergency surgery, had diabetes, and/or had a protracted hospital stay prior to any kind of surgery were more likely to experience surgical site infections (SSIs). It was also found that the proven role of Exo T virulence genes in the pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa would help in treatment and prognosis of Pseudomonas infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents static modelling and simulation of a spherically-shaped hyperelastic balloon actuator subjected to an angular rotation with an internally applied air pressure. These actuators are extensively used in soft robotics because its safe and flexible nature. The balloon actuator is a pneumatic-type actuator made of a polymeric material. A continuum mechanics-based analytical modelling and Finite element method-based simulation are performed to predict the response of the actuator for a given angular rotation with internally applied air pressure. The proposed modelling framework is subsequently utilised to perform the parametric studies for varying pressure, thickness, and rotational speed of the actuator. Various elastic instability curves are also obtained to examine the critical inflation of the rubber balloon actuator. The analytical findings agree well with the FEM simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface plasmons, the resonant oscillations of conducting electrons at the interface of negative and positive permittivity materials, pave the way for enhanced electromagnetic wave–matter interactions at a subwavelength scale. On the other hand, spin-dependent magnetotransport ushers an ingenious technology by inculcating electron spin to realize miniaturized, energy-efficient electromagnetic devices. Generally, magneto-resistive devices (viz., multilayer un-patterned magnetic–non-magnetic thin films) relying on magnetotransport mechanisms are not recognized for supporting surface plasmons toward enhanced electromagnetic interactions. However, an amalgamation of surface plasmons with spin-dependent magnetotransport can exploit magnetic (spintronic) degree of freedom in plasmonic devices. In this work, we propose a patterned superlattice (non-magnetic/ferromagnetic thin films) terahertz (THz) magneto-resistive device for supporting surface plasmons toward enhanced electromagnetic interactions. Magnetotransport dependent enhancement and dynamic magnetic modulation of resonant THz transmissions are experimentally demonstrated in subwavelength superlattice (Al/Ni) hole arrays for varying lattice parameters. Our experiments reveal that typical non-magnetic electromagnetic phenomena like surface plasmon resonances can be tweaked by externally applied low intensity magnetic fields [∼few tens of milli-tesla (0–30 mT)]. Experimental outcomes are explicated by spin-dependent terahertz magnetotransport theory in perforated superlattice metal sheets and, therefore, can stimulate a paragon for spin-based integrated photonic technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study examines how friction stir welding (FSW) changes the microstructure and mechanical properties of an AA6061-T6 alloy joint. Results showed that welding speeds (WSs) affected microstructure evolution, joint impact toughness, tensile strength, and ductility. Frictional heat and deformation rate affect grain size and shape. Additionally, the agitated zone on the advancing side had substantially less precipitates than on the retreating side. Tensile strength and impact toughness increased mostly due to high angle grain boundaries (HABs) and grain refining. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that intermetallic compounds, such as Mg2Si, MgZn2, and Al2CuMg were formed in various regions of stir zone (SZ), whereas β(Mg2Si) and β″(Mg5Si6) were found in Si-rich zones. Impact test revealed a drop in impact energy at all set of parameters when comparing to ambient temperatures (25 °C), i.e. 23%, 20%, and 22% for sample A1 (rotational speed (RS)/WS-710/40), 15%, 24%, and 30% for sample A2 (RS/WS-710/100), and 12%, 7.5%, and 17% for sample A3 (RS/WS-710/160) at 0 °C, −20 °C, and −40 °C, respectively. The maximum joint efficiency of 74.5% was obtained for sample A3. Hardness value was also found to be higher for sample A3 in SZ due to the increase the precipitates and the dislocation densities walls and substructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the free radial oscillations of an electrically actuated cylindrical tube. Classical Knowles' tube problem is explored here with the application of an external electric field. One of the prime objectives is to study the effect of sudden pressure removal from the cylindrical actuator. We attempt to correlate our problem physiologically with an arterial tissue actuation. The tube is introduced to an electrical actuation with an externally applied electric field and is subjected to a sudden pressure which is removed instantly to explore the purely free radial oscillations. Generally, such kind dynamic effects are neglected in designing cylindrical actuators. The dielectric cylindrical tube is assumed to be incompressible, isotropic, and infinite. The obtained results assert that the application of an external electric field reduces the amplitude of the radial oscillations and thus makes the tube contract. Essentially, the actuation is elevating the stiffness of the tube. A similar effect is also observed in the blood vessels, wherein the electric signaling helps the vessels to contract. We propose a complete analytical solution approach that is highly significant in designing cylindrical muscle actuators for various futuristic applications in the biomimetic and medical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn this study, we examined the reflection phenomena of plane wave occurring at the thermally insulated and stress-free surface of a nonlocal monoclinic micropolar generalized thermoelastic half-space. We have derived the reflection coefficients, phase velocities, and energy ratios of all the reflected waves. We explored the variation of phase velocity and reflection coefficients in presence and absence of nonlocal parameter against incident angle under LS and GL theory. The variation of energy ratios against incident angle in presence of nonlocal parameter is also obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin which is present in the outer membrane of Gram‐negative bacteria causes adverse toxic effects on human health. Herein, we report a facile graphene nanoplatelets@cytochrome c (GNP@Cyt c) hydrogel based voltammetric electrochemical sensor for LPS. Firstly, the resultant hydrogel sensor facilitated a large electroactive surface coverage for electron transfer, and secondly provided a 3D porous microenvironment for interaction of abundant electrocatalytic sites in Cyt c with LPS. Under optimal incubation conditions, the heme iron of Cyt c in its reduced form (Fe2+) can directly bind to highly anionic carbohydrate groups of LPS, thereby giving rise to specific interaction. Moreover, the binding of Cyt c (Fe2+) with LPS served as a electrocatalytic unit, generating a strong oxidation peak current at 0.019 V. Importantly, no separate redox mediator was required and the electrochemical signal obtained by LPS‐Cyt c (Fe2+) complex sufficed for detection purposes. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were employed to investigate the electrochemical aspects of GNP@Cyt c hydrogel modified screen‐printed carbon electrode (SPCE). Further, the GNP@Cyt c hydrogel/SPCE demonstrated LPS dose‐dependent changes in oxidation current which enabled selective quantitative detection. This method exhibited a detection limit as low as 8.4×10−4 ng mL−1 with a wide linear range of 0.01–2.0 ng mL−1. For continuous on‐chip monitoring of LPS, a customized microfluidic electrochemical device approach was established which endorses the practical utility of the developed sensor. Further, the integrated microfluidic electrochemical device showed excellent recovery upon spiking LPS in lemon juice and tap water samples. Overall, the fabricated sensor holds great promise for point‐of‐care screening of trace LPS contamination, especially for food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a deep learning framework for additive manufacturing (AM), that can detect different defect types without being trained on specific defect data sets and can be applied for real-time process control. Design/methodology/approach: This study develops an explainable artificial intelligence (AI) framework, a zero-bias deep neural network (DNN) model for real-time defect detection during the AM process. In this method, the last dense layer of the DNN is replaced by two consecutive parts, a regular dense layer denoted (L1) for dimensional reduction, and a similarity matching layer (L2) for equal weight and non-biased cosine similarity matching. Grayscale images of 3D printed samples acquired during printing were used as the input to the zero-bias DNN. Findings: This study demonstrates that the approach is capable of successfully detecting multiple types of defects such as cracks, stringing and warping with high accuracy without any prior training on defective data sets, with an accuracy of 99.5%. Practical implications: Once the model is set up, the computational time for anomaly detection is lower than the speed of image acquisition indicating the potential for real-time process control. It can also be used to minimize manual processing in AI-enabled AM. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to use zero-bias DNN, an explainable AI approach for defect detection in AM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is a common musculoskeletal condition in infants, characterized by the involuntary tilting of the head to one side due to tightness or weakness in neck muscles. Massage therapy has been explored as a potential intervention to alleviate the symptoms of CMT in infants. This retrospective comparative study aims to assess the effect of massage therapy on infants diagnosed with CMT. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at ESIC Medical College, Bihta, over a one-year period from November 2022 to November 2023. Four infants with confirmed cases of congenital muscular torticollis were included in the study. Two of them underwent massage therapy, while the other two received standard care without massage. The infants' age, gender, initial degree of head tilt, and duration of therapy were recorded. The massage therapy involved gentle, specific techniques targeting neck muscles, administered by trained therapists. The outcome measures included the degree of head tilt reduction and any observed improvements in neck muscle function. Results: The infants who underwent massage therapy showed significant improvements in the reduction of head tilt compared to those who received standard care. The degree of head tilt was reduced by an average of 20 degrees in the massage therapy group, whereas the control group showed a reduction of only 5 degrees. Additionally, the infants in the massage therapy group demonstrated better neck muscle function and range of motion. No adverse effects related to massage therapy were observed during the study period. Conclusion: This retrospective comparative study suggests that massage therapy can be an effective intervention for infants with congenital muscular torticollis. The findings indicate a significant reduction in head tilt and improved neck muscle function in infants who received massage therapy. However, further research with a larger sample size and randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate these results and establish massage therapy as a standard intervention for CMT in infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The emergence of strains resistant to methicillin and other antimicrobials has become a major concern, particularly in the hospital settings as MRSA infections are resistant to the majority of conventional antibiotics, possesing serious risks to hospitals and communities all over the world. Aim and Objectives: To study the prevalence and the molecular characterization of Mec A gene in MRSA isolates at a tertiary care centre, Uttar Pradesh, India. Material and Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted in the Department of Microbiology at a tertiary care centre, for a period of 1 year i.e, August 2022 to August 2023. A total of 682 clinical isolates was studied out of which 200 isolates of S. aureus were identified using the biochemical test from the clinical samples such as pus, swab, blood, wound and urine etc. The different Phenotypic Methods including Cefoxitin and Oxacillin Disc Diffusion test and the genotypic method including MecA gene detection for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates was performed. The DNA was extracted using the DNA extraction Qiagen Kit and the Mec A gene was detected by the PCR method. Results: In the present study a total of 42 MRSA isolates were identified by CX, OX, and E-test test phenotypically. The prevalence of MRSA was found to 21%. The maximum number of isolates were observed from the OPD ward with 38.5%. The ratio of the males 28 (66.6%) was more as compared to the females with 14 (33.3%) with the maximum age of 41-50 years being affected the most followed by 31-40 years and least in the age group of 61 years and above. The pus 47.6% was the most common isolate followed by the blood with 23.8% and least for urine and the body fluids 2.3%. All the MRSA isolates were found sensitive to linezolid, Teicoplanin, vancomycin, however all the isolates were recorded resistant with Cefoxitin and Oxacillin. The presence of MecA gene was recorded in all the 42 isolates of MRSA. The presence of MecA gene was confirmed by the PCR followed by sequencing assay. Conclusion: This study provides a clear guidance to effectively diagnose and measure MRSA infections in hospitals and communities. Future research could identify MRSA isolates with the help of the data produced in this investigation. For the control of antibiotic resistance, there is a need for ongoing monitoring and the deployment of effective control techniques where continuous surveillance, awareness of the incidence of MRSA, and upkeep of hygienic standards have been needed to reduce MRSA infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some of the existent frequency-limited model reduction techniques result in unstable reduced-order models (ROMs). Further, the ROMs of a few methods differ significantly from the actual model, resulting in a significant approximation error. Therefore, this work presents an innovative structure of confined frequency-intervals Gramians for continuous-time systems. The developed ROM ensures stability and minimal inaccuracy in approximation error over the desired frequency intervals. Also, the developed technique provides an easy-to-calculate error-bound. Compared to conventional approaches, the suggested approach offers consistent results, illustrating its usefulness. Further, the numerical cases support the effectiveness of the proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research investigates the thermal and corrosive behaviour of alumina-based ceramic coatings deposited on stainless steel grade 304 through the flame spray method. The microstructure of the coatings was examined using various techniques such as FESEM, EDS, and a 3D optical profilometer. The thermal conductivity of the coatings was determined by employing the hot plate method to calculate the temperature difference across the exposed coatings. Furthermore, an electrochemical test was conducted to evaluate the corrosion behaviour of the deposited coatings. The outcomes of the study reveal that the Al2O3–40%TiO2 coating exhibits significantly higher thermal and corrosive resistance characteristics in comparison to the stainless-steel substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leukemia is a cancer of white blood cells characterized by immature lymphocytes. Due to blood cancer, many people die every year. Hence, the early detection of these blast cells is necessary for avoiding blood cancer. A novel deep convolutional neural network (CNN) 3SNet that has depth-wise convolution blocks to reduce the computation costs has been developed to aid the diagnosis of leukemia cells. The proposed method includes three inputs to the deep CNN model. These inputs are grayscale and their corresponding histogram of gradient (HOG) and local binary pattern (LBP) images. The HOG image finds the local shape, and the LBP image describes the leukaemia cell's texture pattern. The suggested model was trained and tested with images from the AML-Cytomorphology_LMU dataset. The mean average precision (MAP) for the cell with less than 100 images in the dataset was 84%, whereas for cells with more than 100 images in the dataset was 93.83%. In addition, the ROC curve area for these cells is more than 98%. This confirmed proposed model could be an adjunct tool to provide a second opinion to a doctor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plants, hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is mainly considered as a gaseous transmitter or signaling molecule that has long been recognized as an essential component of numerous plant cellular and physiological processes. Several subcellular compartments in plants use both enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms to generate H 2 S. Under normal and stress full conditions exogenous administration of H 2 S supports a variety of plant developmental processes, including growth and germination, senescence, defense, maturation and antioxidant machinery in plants. Due to their gaseous nature, they are efficiently disseminated to various areas of the cell to balance antioxidant pools and supply sulphur to the cells. Numerous studies have also been reported regarding H 2 S ability to reduce heavy metal toxicity when combined with other signaling molecules like nitric oxide (NO), abscisic acid (ABA), calcium ion (Ca2+), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2), salicylic acid (SA), ethylene (ETH), jasmonic acid (JA), proline (Pro), and melatonin. The current study focuses on multiple pathways for JA and H 2 S production as well as their signaling functions in plant cells under varied circumstances, more specifically under heavy metal, which also covers role of H 2 S and Jasmonic acid during heavy metal stress and interaction of hydrogen sulfide with Jasmonic acid. • Various heavy metal stressors adversely affect the growth and development of plants. • In order to meet the food demand of increasing population It becomes decisive to protect the plants from these stressors. • Hydrogen sulfide and Jasmonic acid could enhance the crop production by increasing stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acral vitiligo is a significantly distressing condition and tends to be treatment‐resistant. The occurrence of new lesions on acral areas further causes greater psychological trauma. Topical tacrolimus has been widely used in the management of vitiligo and its role in preventing flares in other dermatoses such as atopic dermatitis has been well documented. Objectives: To assess the role of topical tacrolimus as preventive therapy in unstable acral vitiligo. Materials and Methods: In this single‐centre randomized prospective study, 60 patients aged 16–60 years having unstable acral vitiligo with symmetrical lesions were enrolled and randomized (1:1) into two groups. Patients in group A were instructed to apply topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment on both vitiliginous and normal skin while patients in group B were instructed to apply topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment only on vitiliginous skin for 6 months. Only the distal hand till the wrist joint was chosen for observation. Vitiliginous patches were assessed monthly for 6 months for a change in the number of lesions and total area involved, extension of preexisting lesions and adverse effects if any. Results: A reduction in the number of lesions was observed in both groups. The decrease in the number of lesions in group A was 5.6% as compared to 2.3% in group B (p‐0.001). The decrease in depigmented area in group A was 10.5% as compared to 4.6% in group B (p‐0.048). Treatment failure was seen in 11 out of 60 (18.3%) patients. Conclusion: Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment application showed effectiveness in preventing the appearance of new lesions in unstable acral vitiligo and hastening the repigmentation when applied on both lesional and perilesional skin in vitiligo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removal of organic contaminants such as azo dyes is highly desirable from the industrial waste waters because of their toxicity, stability, and mutagenic properties. Herein, the nano‐composite CuO@Zn−2‐PTZ has been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method and characterized by a combination of techniques like Powder X‐Ray Diffraction (PXRD), UV‐Visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy‐Energy Dispersive X‐ray analysis (SEM‐EDX) etc. The band gap of the composite was found to be 2.07 eV, indicating the spread of absorption in to the visible region in comparison to the high (3.76 eV) band gap of the parent metal organic framework (MOF) Zn−2‐PTZ. The composite CuO@Zn−2‐PTZ exhibited much higher photo degradations, under natural sunlight, towards the decompositions of the cationic [Methylene Blue (MB)] and anionic [Methyl Orange (MO)] dyes as well as mixed MB and MO dyes taken in water. A comparative study was also undertaken by taking CuO nanoparticles and the parent MOF separately with the same set of dyes under same conditions to substantiate the above. The enhancement of photo‐catalytic activity has been caused by the formation of a p‐n hetero‐junction in the composite. The Langmuir‐Hinshelwood model showed that the degradation rates of the dyes follow pseudo‐first‐order kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leukemia is a cancer of white blood cells characterized by immature lymphocytes. Due to blood cancer, many people die every year. Hence, the early detection of these blast cells is necessary for avoiding blood cancer. A novel deep convolutional neural network (CNN) 3SNet that has depth-wise convolution blocks to reduce the computation costs has been developed to aid the diagnosis of leukemia cells. The proposed method includes three inputs to the deep CNN model. These inputs are grayscale and their corresponding histogram of gradient (HOG) and local binary pattern (LBP) images. The HOG image finds the local shape, and the LBP image describes the leukaemia cell's texture pattern. The suggested model was trained and tested with images from the AML-Cytomorphology_LMU dataset. The mean average precision (MAP) for the cell with less than 100 images in the dataset was 84%, whereas for cells with more than 100 images in the dataset was 93.83%. In addition, the ROC curve area for these cells is more than 98%. This confirmed proposed model could be an adjunct tool to provide a second opinion to a doctor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Black gram (Vigna mungo) is one of the most important pulse crops grown throughout the country. It is hardy crop and fixes nitrogen in soil. Organic black gram fetch higher price in market i.e., Rs. 175 whereas other receive Rs. 120. Vermiwash, is one among the organic manures which has high potential to increase the crop growth and yield. Thus, present study aims to evaluate the influence of vermiwash prepared from different combination of organic sources on growth and yield of black gram. Methods: The field experiment was conducted during kharif, 2018 at Organic Farming Unit, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, with nine treatments [T1= vermiwash from 100% cow dung, T2= vermiwash from 100% buffalo dung, T3= vermiwash from 50% cow dung + 25% dry farm waste + 25% green farm waste, T4= vermiwash from 50% buffalo dung + 25% dry farm waste + 25% green farm waste, T5= vermiwash from 90% green waste incubated with 10% cow dung, T6= vermiwash from 90% green waste incubated with 10% buffalo dung, T7= vermiwash from 90% dry waste incubated with 10% cow dung, T8= vermiwash from 90% dry waste incubated with 10% buffalo dung and T9= water spray (control)] and were replicated thrice in Randomize Block Design. Result: The result of experiment revealed that the application of vermiwash from 100% cow dung significant influence towards growth parameters and yield attributes thus achieved maximum seed yield, haulm yield and B:C ratio (2.3). On the basis of field performance, it may be concluded that the treatment T1(top dressing in two equal split application at the rate of 10% at initiation of flowering and 15 days after 1st spray) may be recommended as a better organic package of blackgram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mergers and acquisition deals are uncertain, with completion likelihood changing throughout the negotiation process. During negotiations, the firms process new information to modify their choices. This study aims to examine the dynamic nature of the M&A negotiation process. The study uses a sample of 983 worldwide unsolicited deals from 1999 to 2019 and classifies M&A deal outcomes using logistic regression, decision tree, and random forest classifiers. Ownership considerations and advisors are essential elements of the negotiation. Ownership sought has the potential to impact the deal's complexity and exercisable control. Prior ownership may either help gain information or recover due diligence costs. The advisors may assist the firms in the available information's financial and legal due diligence. Prior research lacks the negotiation period's dynamism and gives mixed results for the impact of ownership and the role of advisors. We uniquely identify a non-linear inverted U-shaped relationship between the negotiation period and completion likelihood. The results prove that prior ownership, over the negotiation period, serves the dual objective of assisting deal completion and acting as a substitute for the termination fee. The acquirer and target advisors help with the completion of the deal. The varying effects for ownership and advisors over the negotiation process help explain the conflicting results in previous studies. The evolving negotiating circumstances play an important role in affecting the outcome. Our work shows the importance of temporal characteristics and the dynamic nature of decision-making during the M&A negotiation process and encourages further studies exploring processual theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites offer enhanced mechanical properties, increased functionalities, and improved manufacturing processes by incorporating nanoscale fillers into a matrix material. Therefore, nanocomposites outperform constituent materials in mechanical, electrical, optical, and chemical properties and help to develop advanced lightweight and intelligent materials. The authors used a novel method to develop nano-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) doped nanocomposite, which is simple, fast, chemical free, and non-hazardous. Nanocomposite is synthesised using an in-house developed portable ball mill (6–9 V DC supply, 100 rpm) by varying the weight percentage (1–5%) of rGO in CaCO3. Characterisations such as Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), X-ray Diffraction, UV–Vis Spectroscopy (UV), and Raman analysis are performed to examine the morphological, optical, and chemical bonding, respectively. FESEM confirms the homogeneous mixing of two different nanoparticles. Furthermore, UV spectroscopy shows that adding rGO increases absorbance while decreasing the optical band gap from 2.04 eV to 1.83 eV. The effect of rGO doping on CaCO3 electron excitation is significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report the frequency of IVH in preterm neonates and IVH grading on cranial ultrasound. Methodology: This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out at NICH. All preterm infants of either gender were consecutively enrolled. Detailed history of the infant regarding the clinical examination and socio-demographic characteristics of the infants were noted. IVH was observed in all preterm neonates, and all infants were categorized according to the Papile grading. Results: Of 144 neonates, the mean age was 2.34 ±0.97 days. There were 93 (64.6%) males and 51 (35.4%) females. IVH was observed in 144 (37.6%) neonates. A significant mean difference of age (p: <0.001), gestational age (p: <0.001), birth weight (p: <0.001), APGAR score at 1 min (p; <0.001), APGAR score at 5 min (p: <0.001) was observed in between IVH and non IVH neonates. Furthermore, a significant association of place of admission (p: <0.001), mode of delivery (p: 0.038), need of invasive/non-invasive ventilator (p: 0.002), and preterm status (p: <0.001) was observed with IVH. IVH grade I was observed in 75 (52.1%), grade II in 45 (31.3%), grade III in 18 (12.5%), and grade IV in 6 (4.2%) neonates. Conclusion: A notably higher number of preterm neonates had IVH. While grade I was most common, a majority exhibited severe grades (III and IV). Extremely early preterm births carried increased risk of spontaneous delivery and greater reliance on invasive/non-invasive ventilator support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing an effective, robust controller is vital for regulating system frequency corresponding to the load demand variations in a traditional interlinked power system. Hence, load frequency control plays a critical role in countering load disturbances and minimizing unscheduled power flow between interlinked areas. This paper proposes a novel teaching-learning optimization (TLO) based dual-loop load frequency control approach aided by fractional-order proportional-integral-derivative controller (FO-PID). The inner control loop of the presented method employs internal model control and model approximation. On the other hand, the external loop uses a TLO-tuned FO-PID controller to improve the outcomes of the proposed approach. The proposed method is validated using a 1-area multi-stage reheat hydrothermal power system (RHTPS), 2-area reheat thermal power system (RTPS), and 2-area multi-stage RHTPS. The robustness of the proposed method is demonstrated by executing sensitivity analysis. It is established from the simulation results that the proposed approach enhances the dynamic response of the test systems substantially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data-driven models have emerged as popular choices for fault detection and isolation (FDI) in process industries. However, real-time updating of these models due to streaming data requires significant computational resources, is tedious and therefore pauses difficulty in fault detection. To address this problem, in this study, we have developed a novel forward-learning neural network framework that can efficiently update data-driven models in real time for high-frequency data without compromising the accuracy. The neural network parameters are updated using a suitably constructed forward-forward learning algorithm instead of the traditional backpropagation algorithm. Firstly, we develop a variance-capturing forward-forward autoencoder (VFFAE) for FDI. Further, we showcase that the previously trained VFFAE model can be quickly adapted to incoming data which demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed framework. We have three process case studies to validate the proposed approach, namely, the Tennesse-Eastman dataset, nuclear power flux dataset, and wastewater plant dataset, to validate the proposed approach. Our findings demonstrate that within the initial 90 s, the model underwent 90 updates using a forward-forward approach and only 10 updates using backpropagation-based methods without compromising accuracy. This highlights the model's capacity to effectively handle streaming data during the modeling process. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CNS manifestations represent an emerging facet of NTM infection with significant mortality. Due to protean presentation and low index of suspicion, many cases are often treated erroneously as tubercular meningitis or fungal infections. Objectives: Literature on NTM CNS disease is scarce, with most available data on pulmonary disease. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, and predictors of outcome in CNS NTM infection. Methods: The literature search was performed in major electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus) using keywords "CNS," "Central nervous system," "brain abscess," "meningitis," "spinal," "Nontuberculous mycobacteria," "NTM". All cases of CNS NTM infection reported between January 1980 and December 2022 were included. Results: A total of 77 studies (112 cases) were included in the final analysis. The mean age of all patients was 38 years, with most patients male (62.5%). Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) was the most common aetiology, followed by M. fortuitum and M. abscessus (34.8%, 21.4% and 15.2%, respectively). The disseminated disease was found in 33% of cases. HIV (33.9%) and neurosurgical hardware (22.3%) were the common risk factors. Intracranial abscess (36.6%) and leptomeningeal enhancement (28%) were the most prevalent findings in neuroimaging. The overall case fatality rate was 37.5%. On multivariate analysis, male gender (adjusted OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2–7.9) and HIV (adjusted OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.8–6.1) were the independent predictors of mortality). M. fortuitum infection was significantly associated with increased survival (adjusted OR 0.18, 95% CI (0.08–0.45), p value 0.012). Conclusions: Current evidence shows the emerging role of rapid-grower NTM in CNS disease. Male gender and HIV positivity were associated with significant mortality, while M fortuitum carries favourable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipomas are benign tumors composed of adipose tissue that can occur in various locations throughout the body, including the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Lipoma of the small bowel is a rare clinical condition. It infrequently results in small bowel obstruction and volvulus. In most of the patients, it is an incidental diagnosis. However, it may present with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, GI bleeding, and constipation. It is commonly diagnosed using imaging studies, such as computerized tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging. The management of small bowel lipomas depends on the presence of symptoms and the risk of complications. Asymptomatic lipomas can be safely monitored with imaging studies, as the risk of complications is low. However, in symptomatic cases, surgical or endoscopic treatment may be necessary to relieve obstruction and prevent complications. We report a case of volvulus of small bowel in a middle-aged female presenting to our hospital with acute GI symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the authors developed a nanocomposite and nano-filled conductive elastomer through a simple and novel approach. First, the rGO-CaCO3 nanocomposite was synthesized by varying the wt.% of rGO. After that, the nanocomposite unified into the PDMS in the ratio 1:4 (1-part nanocomposite and 4-part PDMS). The influence of doping nanocomposite into the PDMS was thoroughly studied using FESEM, XRD, Raman, XPS, and UV-Vis characterizations. It has been concluded that the doping of nanocomposite enhances the electrical, structural, and optical properties of the PDMS. Absorbance was also, improved, and the optical band gap energy was decreased significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the challenging tasks in a hybrid power system is to provide an effective control strategy to attenuate frequency and power deviations that occur due to the intermittency of renewable energy resources (RERs) and load demand. To address this issue, we present a novel proportional fractional-order integral derivative filter plus proportional fractional-order integral (PIλDn plus PIλ) controller, which is applied for the load frequency control (LFC) operation of an interlinked hybrid thermal power system. Using quasi-oppositional learning, we also propose the maiden quasi-oppositional African vultures optimization algorithm (QOAVOA), which is used to tune the proposed controller by minimizing the objective function. First, the capability of the proposed QOAVOA tuned PIλDn plus PIλ controller is examined with a two-area thermal power system under load uncertainty and the performance is compared with the results of various optimization-based classical/fuzzy controllers. The sensitivity study is also performed to validate the robustness of the proposed control approach for handling systems' parametric uncertainties. The suggested LFC mechanism is further validated on a two-area-hybrid thermal power system (2A-hTPS) comprising RERs and distributed generation sources to authenticate the tuning ability of the proposed optimization approach. The dynamic performance of considered 2A-hTPS with the suggested control approach is examined considering various scenarios such as changing load demand, uncertain wind perturbation, and random multi-step load perturbations of the wind turbine generator. The comparative dynamic performance of the suggested controller reveals its superiority over other controllers in terms of transient and steady-state responses. Finally, a few non-linearities are introduced to the test system, and the simulation study with non-linearities validates the potency of the proposed controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of different inoculum-to-substrate ratios (ISRs) and feed mix (FM) ratios on the kinetics of methane production and yields during anaerobic digestion of spoiled silage mixture (SM) alone or co-digestion with cow manure (CM) was investigated in batch experiments at 37 °C. The silage mixture was prepared from spoiled silages of maize, lucerne and barley in equal proportions of 33% by wet weight. The effect of ISRs of 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 showed that methane yields increased with an increased ISR ratio. At ISRs of 1, 2 and 4, methane yields of 262.18 ± 14.96, 387.77 ± 14.43 and 482.23 ± 38.47 NmL CH4/gVSadded were obtained, respectively. Incubation at ISR 0.5 resulted in low methane yields (174.49 ± 9.29 NmL CH4/gVSadded) due to build-up of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Further, co-digestion of spoiled SM with CM showed that the highest methane yields of 387.77 and 382.86 NmL CH4/gVSadded were obtained at SM:CM feed mix ratios of 100–0 and 75–25, respectively. The corresponding volatile solids (VS) removal rates were 72.80% and 70.82%, respectively. However, the best synergistic effect was noticed at a SM:CM = 50–50 feed mix ratio. Thus, this study shows that anaerobic digestion of spoiled silages is feasible and co-digestion of spoiled silage mixed with cow manure at a SM:CM feed mix ratio of 75–25 is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]