Search

We investigate the hot carrier and exciton dynamics in two-dimensional (2D) metal halide perovskites using time-resolved spectroscopy. 2D perovskite films were prepared with and without dimethyl sulfoxide treatment to elucidate the effect of film processing techniques on optoelectronic properties. Femtosecond transient absorption measurements reveal that the charge carrier dynamics are different in the two samples, and excitons survive for a longer time in the treated sample than the untreated one. While the early-time carrier dynamics in the untreated sample are dominated by charges trapped by defect states, the hot free carriers govern the dynamics in the treated sample due to fewer defects in it. Morphological and other spectroscopic studies, including time-resolved photoluminescence, further suggest the formation of more defects in the untreated sample. These results can guide the future development of efficient 2D perovskite-based optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrahedrite, Cu12Sb4S13, an eco-friendly thermoelectric material with earth-abundant and low-cost constituents, has garnered global interest. This study investigated the thermoelectric characteristics of Ag-added tetrahedrites, which were prepared through solid-state synthesis and subsequently hot-pressed. The minimal temperature dependence of the transport coefficient indicated the presence of strong electron–phonon coupling in the samples. It was observed that Ag addition in tetrahedrite could successfully scatter acoustic phonons, reducing the lattice thermal conductivity while minimally affecting the power factor. The enhanced anharmonicity induced by Ag addition is the primary cause of reduced lattice thermal conductivity. Raman spectroscopy data showed that Ag addition could weaken the Sb–S bond, further supporting the previous argument. Consequently, the lattice thermal conductivity was lowered to ∼0.27 W m−1 K−1 and obtained for the composition Ag0.025 added Cu11.975Sb4S13. A relatively high power factor of ∼1.3 mW m−1 K−2 was obtained for the same composition. Owing to the lowest total thermal conductivity ∼1.09 W m−1 K−1, the sample with composition Ag0.025 added Cu11.975Sb4S13 showed the highest thermoelectric figure of merit of 0.87 at 738 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative effects of the accelerating climate change due partly to fossil fuel consumption is calling for the rapid development of sustainable energies such as biohydrogen, which is produced using microorganisms. Here we review biohydrogen production from biomass, with focus on biomass pretreatment, fermentative production, factors affecting production, bioreactors, kinetics and modeling, and improved production with nanoparticles. Pretreatments include chemical, physical and biological methods. Hydrogen production is done by photo-fermentation or dark fermentation. Influencing factors comprise pH, temperature, hydraulic retention time, and the presence of fermentation inhibitors. Continuous stirred tank-, anaerobic fluidized bed-, anaerobic sequencing batch-, up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket- and dynamic membrane reactors are used. Additives include cobalt, nickel and iron nanoparticles. Compared to thermochemical, photochemical and electrochemical processes, biohydrogen production needs more time but is easy to operate, cost-effective and environmentally friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research paper, we construct a new sequence of Riemann–Liouville type fractional α$$ \alpha $$‐Bernstein–Kantorovich operators. We prove a Korovkin type approximation theorem and discuss the rate of convergence with the first order modulus of continuity of these operators. Further, we study Voronovskaja type theorem, quantitative Voronovskaya type theorem, Chebyshev–Grüss inequality and Grüss–Voronovskaya type theorem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the benefits of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach in managing complex airway conditions in adults. The study focused on patients with diagnoses such as subglottic stenosis, tracheal stenosis, and airway cancer. The MDT meetings involved specialists from different medical fields, and the study found that this collaborative approach led to improved patient care and decision-making. The article also emphasizes the importance of further research and incorporating patient perspectives in future MDT meetings. The MDT model described in the article can be applied to other healthcare centers to enhance the management of complex airway diseases. [Extracted from the article]

This review presents an overview of recent developments and advancements in the field of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution using poly(heptazine imide) (PHI) and based materials. Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) has received great amount of attention because of its potential as a clean and sustainable energy source and PHI based materials have emerged as promising candidates for this purpose due to their distinct structural properties, improved light absorption, charge separation and reduced recombination. This review discusses the essential concepts of PHE and the potential of poly(heptazine imide) materials and their derivatives as photocatalysts and also the limitations of these materials in photocatalytic activity. It addresses the synthetic routes and strategies adopted to enhance the photocatalytic activity of these materials including surface modifications, band engineering, doping, loading co‐catalysts and composites & heterojunction construction. Furthermore, the recent works in photocatalytic H2 evolution using PHI and based materials have been summarized and discussed. Additionally, we examined the challenges and future outlooks in this field, emphasizing the need for scalable and cost‐effective production methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the challenges and strategies for sustaining and scaling up street medicine, emphasizing the need for targeted healthcare services for the rising number of unsheltered homeless individuals. It highlights the higher mortality rates in this population and the importance of bringing medical care directly to them through street teams.

Objective: Unusual clinical course Background: Compression of the vagus nerve by a pharyngeal mass is a well-documented condition that can result in sinus node dysfunction (SND). However, there is scarce literature on extrinsic vagal nerve compression from a tonsillar abscess. Case Report: A 59-year-old woman with a history of asthma and chronic throat discomfort presented to the Emergency Department with bradycardia, palpitations, and voice changes. Following a shellfish allergy hospitalization, an otolaryngology evaluation revealed an enlarged right tonsil, recommending tonsillectomy, but scheduling challenges persisted. The patient reported mild throat pain, dysphagia, hoarseness, rhinorrhea, and exertional dyspnea and was admitted for the evaluation of peritonsillar mass. She was found to be bradycardic with a heart rate of 47, with an electrocardiogram revealing SND. Albuterol and ipratropium nebulizers, as well as dexamethasone and pantoprazole, were initiated. With this treatment, the patient symptomatically improved with a new heart rate of 68. She was discharged with outpatient appointments, but was unfortunately lost to follow-up. Conclusions: This case reveals sinus node dysfunction resulting from extrinsic vagal nerve compression by a tonsillar abscess. Pressure on the vagus nerve can trigger bradycardia and low blood pressure, possibly due to compensatory overfiring of afferent vagal nerve signals from local mass effect. Early recognition and antibiotic treatment are essential to prevent cardiac complications. Clinicians must remain vigilant for such extrinsic causes, particularly in patients with chronic sore throat and cardiac symptoms. Further research and case reports are needed to deepen our understanding of this rare yet significant association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is an essential body immune system response against various infections and tissue injuries and maintains normal homeostasis. Alterations in inflammatory responses lead to multiple disorders like heart diseases, obesity, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and neurodegenerative disorders. Cyclooxygenases (COXs), the enzymes, exist in two isoforms (COX‐1 and COX‐2) that catalyze the rate‐determining step of prostaglandin biogenesis and play a significant role in inflammation. COX‐2 inhibitors, although effective anti‐inflammatory agents are considered to be highly unsafe for long‐term usage due to their possible side and adversative effects. Recently, fused‐thienopyrimidines have emerged as a privileged scaffold with excellent anti‐inflammatory potential. In the present review, we have emphasized the recent developments in the design and synthetic strategies of fused‐thienopyrimidine derivatives and their detailed structure‐activity‐relationship (SAR) studies. The primary goal of this review is to provide restructuring knowledge about this template, which could prove beneficial and valuable for chemists working in the anti‐inflammatory area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) has become one of the emerging and important sole photocatalyst nanomaterials in recent years due to its exceptional/tunable optoelectronic properties, multifunctionality, and eco‐friendly nature. However, challenges remain in tuning surface chemistry, tailoring the band gap, developing doping strategies, and understanding the sole photocatalytic mechanism. This contribution investigated the synthesis of GO via the improved Hummers method by varying the ratio of the oxidizing agents (K2Cr2O7:KMnO4), as well as modifications by nitrogen (N) and boron (B) doping in view of its applications in photocatalytic degradation of organic dye pollutants. Furthermore, changes in surface chemistry, optical, compositional, morphological, and structural properties are investigated to understand the photocatalytic mechanism. The synthesized GO showed a broad spectrum of light absorption with a tunable band gap of 2.4–4.3 eV and exhibited more than 91% degradation of methylene blue dye under direct sunlight. However, the photocatalytic activity decreased after N and B doping attributed to reduced oxygen‐containing functional groups, low surface area, and dopants‐induced bonding configurations within the GO structure. This study provides a new insight into replacing metallic semiconductor photocatalysts with highly affordable, environmentally friendly, and potent metal‐free GO photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and construction of a duo-active electrocatalyst with effective performance and enhanced stability for overall water splitting have been in the spotlight to meet the demand for renewable energy. Herein, we report the fabrication of a stannatranone pillared metal-organic framework via a coprecipitation approach and further its decoration with gold nanoparticles (size D 10.86 nm) for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The Au-anchored Sn-Na MOF (Au NPs/Sn-Na MOF) exhibited a remarkable electric activity with low overpotential (Z) of 129 mV for the HER at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, and 650 mV for the OER at a current density of 20 mA cm-2. The slope values were found to be 62.3 mV dec-1 and 37.8 mV dec-1, respectively. The heightened OER and HER activities can be ascribed to its substantial electrochemically active surface area of 17.4 mF cm-2. The mechanistic studies revealed that Au NPs/Sn-Na MOF provides active surface sites for water adsorption and facilitates subsequent dissociation to form H2 and O2. Furthermore, the pillared structure of the MOF with stannatranone knots made the skeleton highly stable under basic conditions for its potential application in overall water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: Recurring urban flooding in Bengaluru, India, has brought multiple intersecting development challenges to the forefront. While climate change is a catalyst for flooding, rapid urbanisation has aggravated the problem by neglecting its ecological history. Repeated floods have particularly affected migrants living in the slums, further worsening their already vulnerable conditions. Currently, only about 40% of slums are formally recognized by city authorities, leaving most slum dwellers with limited access to public benefits and basic infrastructure. Although the city offers piecemeal solutions, it currently lacks foresight for long‐term planning that includes marginalized voices. Purpose: We explore the multiple and intertwined development challenges faced by Bengaluru city, attempting to frame them from the perspective of migrant slum dwellers experiencing flooding. We try to bring to the forefront the everyday risks and vulnerabilities of the marginalized populations in Indian cities, which have received limited attention both in research and policy. The results of this exercise are intended to create sustainable collaborative processes to inform future decisions, particularly addressing the problem of urban flooding. Methods and approach: Our proposed methodology integrates climate risk assessment—urban flood modelling and exposure mapping of slums across the city—with vulnerability assessments at the household level including analysis of life histories to capture the relative vulnerabilities of slum dwellers and the slums in which they live. Findings: We deconstruct urban flooding, particularly from the perspective of migrant slum dwellers to identify some critical challenges, especially that of recognition, to foresight thinking. By incorporating marginalized voices, our methods aim to be inclusive and contextually relevant, while considering intersectional variations among those marginalized. A mixed‐methods approach allows climate risk assessment to be augmented by life histories of vulnerable slum populations to collaboratively reimagine a more inclusive future. Policy implications: To make policy more inclusive, more participatory processes are needed. The proposed methods will contextualize everyday vulnerabilities and risks of migrant slum dwellers to bring these perspectives into conventional climate risk assessment. Thus, a more inclusive future with lower impacts from urban floods can be envisaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary business landscape, long-term marketing strategies depend significantly on ethical considerations with marketing components (4Ps). Despite the increasing interest and evolving discourse of marketing ethics, adopting ethical principles remains challenging for many corporations. Addressing this gap, our study conducts a bibliometric analysis to organize existing knowledge and highlight potential future research directions. By examining citation analysis and co-citation networks, we acknowledge the pivotal contributions of authors and organizations shaping the field. Employing cluster analysis, we identify eight key clusters within the marketing ethics literature. Our research not only consolidates valuable insights from prior literature but also serves to navigate future research in the realm of ethics in marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limited literature and increasing interest in studies on cardiac electrophysiology, explicitly focusing on cardiac ion channelopathies and sudden cardiac death in diverse populations, has prompted a comprehensive examination of existing research. Our review specifically targets Hispanic/Latino and Indigenous populations, which are often underrepresented in healthcare studies. This review encompasses investigations into genetic variants, epidemiology, etiologies, and clinical risk factors associated with arrhythmias in these demographic groups. The review explores the Hispanic paradox, a phenomenon linking healthcare outcomes to socioeconomic factors within Hispanic communities in the United States. Furthermore, it discusses studies exemplifying this observation in the context of arrhythmias and ion channelopathies in Hispanic populations. Current research also sheds light on disparities in overall healthcare quality in Indigenous populations. The available yet limited literature underscores the pressing need for more extensive and comprehensive research on cardiac ion channelopathies in Hispanic/Latino and Indigenous populations. Specifically, additional studies are essential to fully characterize pathogenic genetic variants, identify population‐specific risk factors, and address health disparities to enhance the detection, prevention, and management of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in these demographic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a common infection in chronic kidney disease. The prolonged therapy of TB can delay kidney transplantation in patients on antitubercular therapy (ATT). Methods: This was a retrospective single‐center study to analyze the safety of kidney transplantation and its outcomes in patients undergoing transplantation while on the continuation phase of ATT. Results: Between 2013 and 2022, 30 patients underwent kidney transplantation while on ATT. Median age was 38 years and 70% were males. Majority of the patients (86.7%) had extrapulmonary tuberculosis, most common site of involvement being tubercular lymphadenitis. 14/30 patients had microbiological/histopathological diagnosis of TB and the rest were diagnosed by ancillary tests. Patients were treated with 4 drug ATT (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol) before transplantation for aminimum of 2 months. Post‐transplantation fluoroquinolone‐based non‐rifamycin ATT was used (median duration 11 months). All patients completed therapy. At 2 years, there was 100% patient survival and 96.7% graft survival. Median eGFR at 6, 12, and 24 months post‐transplantation was 71.9, 64.7, and 67 mL/min/1.73m2, respectively. The percentage of patients suffering a biopsy proven acute rejection at 6, 12, and 24 months was 3.3%, 6.7%, and 6.7%. Conclusion: Kidney transplantation can be done in patients with TB who have a satisfactory response to the intensive phase of the ATT. The decision for transplantation while on the continuation phase of ATT should be individualized. In our experience, there is excellent patient and graft survival in these patients with a low risk of failure of ATT or relapse of TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: This investigation includes the structural and optoelectronic characteristics of both pure and Er-doped rock salt aluminium nitride (AlN). Upon introducing Er doping into the AlN host, the calculations reveal a rise in the atomic parameter. Incorporating Er into the system leads to enhancements in the static dielectric coefficient ɛ1(0), static reflectivity R(0), as well as static refractive index n(0), at zero frequency. After doping, the peaks of imaginary dielectric tensor, extinction coefficient and absorption coefficient shift towards lower energy levels. Various exchange correlation potentials are incorporated to compare the results of electronic and optical characteristics. Methods: We employed the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) approach with WIEN2k code in conjunction with the density functional theory (DFT). To explore the optoelectronic characteristics of both pure as well as doped systems, three distinct exchange correlation potentials are utilized: the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof Generalized Gradient Approximation (PBE-GGA), Modified Becke Johnson Generalized Gradient Approximations (mBJ + GGA) and Hubbard potential (GGA + U). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), characterized by the presence of epithelial and sarcoma‐like components. The molecular and immune landscape of PSC has not been well defined. Methods: Multiomics profiling of 21 pairs of PSCs with matched normal lung tissues was performed through targeted high‐depth DNA panel, whole‐exome, and RNA sequencing. We describe molecular and immune features that define subgroups of PSC with disparate genomic and immunogenic features as well as distinct clinical outcomes. Results: In total, 27 canonical cancer gene mutations were identified, with TP53 the most frequently mutated gene, followed by KRAS. Interestingly, most TP53 and KRAS mutations were earlier genomic events mapped to the trunks of the tumors, suggesting branching evolution in most PSC tumors. We identified two distinct molecular subtypes of PSC, driven primarily by immune infiltration and signaling. The Immune High (IM‐H) subtype was associated with superior survival, highlighting the impact of immune infiltration on the biological and clinical features of localized PSCs. Conclusions: We provided detailed insight into the mutational landscape of PSC and identified two molecular subtypes associated with prognosis. IM‐H tumors were associated with favorable recurrence‐free survival and overall survival, highlighting the importance of tumor immune infiltration in the biological and clinical features of PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) contributes to morbidity and prolonged hospitalization. Prucalopride, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonist, may enhance bowel motility. This review assesses whether the perioperative use of prucalopride compared to placebo is associated with accelerated return of bowel function post gastrointestinal (GI) surgery. Methods: OVID, CENTRAL, and EMBASE were searched as of January 2024 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing prucalopride and placebo for prevention of PPOI in adult patients undergoing GI surgery. The primary outcomes were time to stool, time to flatus, and time to oral tolerance. The secondary outcomes were incidence of PPOI, length of stay (LOS), postoperative complications, adverse events, and overall costs. The Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations framework were used. An inverse variance random effects model was used. Results: From 174 citations, 3 RCTs with 139 patients in each treatment group were included. Patients underwent a variety of GI surgeries. Patients treated with prucalopride had a decreased time to stool (mean difference 36.82 hours, 95% CI 59.4 to 14.24 hours lower, I2 = 62%, low certainty evidence). Other outcomes were not statistically significantly different (very low certainty evidence). Postoperative complications and adverse events could not be meta-analyzed due to heterogeneity; yet individual studies suggested no significant differences (very low certainty evidence). Discussion: Current RCT evidence suggests that prucalopride may enhance postoperative return of bowel function. Larger RCTs assessing patient important outcomes and associated costs are needed before routine use of this agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (POGD) commonly occurs following gastrointestinal (GI) surgery and is associated with specific anesthetic agents. Cholinesterase inhibitors employed for reversing neuromuscular blockade have been implicated in development of POGD. Sugammadex, a novel reversal agent, is linked with reduced POGD. However, there is a lack of comprehensive comparative review between these agents regarding their impact on POGD following GI surgery. This study aims to systematically review the effects of sugammadex on POGD compared to cholinesterase inhibitors following GI surgery. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched as of July 2022 to identify articles comparing sugammadex with cholinesterase inhibitors in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery, specifically in relation to POGD. Secondary endpoints included length of hospital stay, readmission rates, pulmonary complications, and postoperative morbidity. Results: From 198 citations, 2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 3 retrospective cohorts with 717 patients receiving sugammadex and 812 patients receiving cholinesterase inhibitors were included. Significantly lower rates of prolonged postoperative ileus (OR.44, 95% CI.25-.77, P <.05, I2 = 56%, low certainty evidence) was observed with sugammadex. No significant difference in any other outcome was observed. Narrative review of readmission data demonstrated no significant difference. Conclusion: The use of sugammadex following gastrointestinal surgery is associated with significantly lower rates of prolonged postoperative ileus compared to cholinesterase inhibitors. However, these do not translate into a significant reduction in length of stay, morbidity, or postoperative nausea and vomiting. Results are limited by the numer of studies included and missing data, more robust RCTs are needed before recommendations can be made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the relaxation of an initial non-equilibrium state in a one-dimensional fluid of hard rods. Since it is an interacting integrable system, we expect it to reach the Generalized Gibbs Ensemble (GGE) at long times for generic initial conditions. Here we show that there exist initial conditions for which the system does not reach GGE even at very long times and in the thermodynamic limit. In particular, we consider an initial condition of uniformly distributed hard-rods in a box with the left half having particles with a singular velocity distribution (all moving with unit velocity) and the right half particles in thermal equilibrium. We find that the density profile for the singular component does not spread to the full extent of the box and keeps moving with a fixed effective speed at long times. We show that such density profiles can be well described by the solution of the Euler equations almost everywhere except at the location of the shocks, where we observe slight discrepancies due to dissipation arising from the initial fluctuations of the thermal background. To demonstrate this effect of dissipation analytically, we consider a second initial condition with a single particle at the origin with unit velocity in a thermal background. We find that the probability distribution of the position of the unit velocity quasi-particle has diffusive spreading which can be understood from the solution of the Navier–Stokes (NS) equation of the hard rods. Finally, we consider an initial condition with a spread in velocity distribution for which we show convergence to GGE. Our conclusions are based on molecular dynamics simulations supported by analytical arguments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objectives Methods Results Conclusion Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a complication of measles, occurring after a latency of 4–10 years. It continues to occur in developing countries although resurgence is being reported from developed countries. Characteristic features include progressive neuropsychiatric issues, myoclonus, seizures, movement disorders and visual impairment. Electroencephalography (EEG) typically shows periodic generalized discharges, and elevated CSF anti‐measles antibodies are diagnostic. Movement disorders are being increasingly recognized as part of the clinical spectrum, and range from hyperkinetic (chorea, dystonia, tremor, tics) to hypokinetic (parkinsonism) disorders and ataxia.This article aims to comprehensively review the spectrum of movement disorders associated with SSPE.A literature search was conducted in PubMed and EMBASE databases in December 2023 and articles were identified for review.Movement disorders reported in SSPE included hyperkinetic (chorea, dystonia, tremor and tics), hypokinetic (parkinsonism), ataxia and extraocular movement disorders. Myoclonus, a core clinical feature, was the most frequent “abnormal movement.” Movement disorders were observed in all clinical stages, and could also be a presenting feature, even sans myoclonus. Hyperkinetic movement disorders were more common than hypokinetic movement disorders. An evolution of movement disorders was observed, with ataxia, chorea and dystonia occurring earlier, and parkinsonism later in the disease. Neuroradiological correlates of movement disorders remained unclear.A wide spectrum of movement disorders was observed throughout the clinical stages of SSPE. Most data were derived from case reports and small case series. Multicentric longitudinal studies are required to better delineate the spectrum and evolution of movement disorders in SSPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently reported strong, replicable (i.e., replicated) evidence for lexically mediated compensation for coarticulation (LCfC; Luthra et al., 2021), whereby lexical knowledge influences a prelexical process. Critically, evidence for LCfC provides robust support for interactive models of cognition that include top‐down feedback and is inconsistent with autonomous models that allow only feedforward processing. McQueen, Jesse, and Mitterer (2023) offer five counter‐arguments against our interpretation; we respond to each of those arguments here and conclude that top‐down feedback provides the most parsimonious explanation of extant data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of copper iodide with 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene in 1:1 equivalent ratio afforded centrosymmetric dimer product of composition [{Cu(µ-I)(dppf)}2] (1a). However, similar reactions of 1,1′-bis(diphenylchalcogenophosphoryl)ferrocene (dppfE2) (E = S, Se) with [Cu(CH3CN)4]+ in 1:2 equivalents yielded [{Cu(dppfS2)}n]+ (1b) and [{Cu2(dppfSe2)3}n]2+ (1c) compounds, respectively. These reported compounds have synthesized with slight modifications. All the mentioned complexes were characterized by Uv–Vis, IR, 1H, 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy and Mass spectrometry. The molecular structure of complex [{Cu(µ-I)(dppf)}2] was established through single crystal X-ray analysis, which suggests distorted tetrahedral geometry around the copper metal center. All the synthesized complexes were studied as a catalyst for synthesis of benzofuran derivatives under an environmentally friendly approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug use and road traffic injuries (RTIs) are significant public health concerns globally, with the majority of RTIs occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is a major factor in RTIs, as psychoactive drugs can impair mental functioning and vehicular control. While alcohol-related traffic deaths have declined, drug-impaired driving is increasing. In India, RTIs are on the rise, and there is a need for more research on drug use and driving under the influence. The lack of research evidence in India contributes to a lack of comprehensive laws and policies for prevention and treatment of drug-related RTIs. It is recommended that research focus on various aspects of drug-impaired driving, and trauma centers should be equipped with testing and treatment services. [Extracted from the article]

Aim: Preoperative frailty has been associated with adverse postoperative outcomes in various populations, but of its use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains sparse. The present study aimed to characterize the impact of frailty, as measured by the modified frailty index (mFI), on postoperative clinical and resource utilization outcomes in patients with IBD. Methods: This retrospective population‐based cohort study assessed patients from the National Inpatient Sample database from 1 September 2015 to 31 December 2019. Corresponding International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision Clinical Modification codes were used to identify adult patients (>18 years of age) with IBD, undergoing either small bowel resection, colectomy or proctectomy. Patient demographics and institutional data were collected for each patient to calculate the 11‐point mFI. Patients were categorized as either frail or robust using a cut‐off of 0.27. Primary outcomes were postoperative in‐hospital morbidity and mortality, whilst secondary outcomes included system‐specific morbidity, length of stay, in‐hospital healthcare costs and discharge disposition. Logistic and linear regression models were used for primary and secondary outcomes. Results: Overall, 7144 patients with IBD undergoing small bowel resection, colectomy or proctectomy were identified, 337 of whom were classified as frail (i.e., mFI < 0.27). Frail patients were more likely to be women, older, have lower income and a greater number of comorbidities. After adjusting for relevant covariates, frail patients were at greater odds of in‐hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.42, 95% CI 2.31–12.77, P < 0.001), overall morbidity (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.30–2.28, P < 0.001), increased length of stay (adjusted mean difference 1.3 days, 95% CI 0.09–2.50, P = 0.035) and less likely to be discharged to home (aOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.45–0.77, P < 0.001) compared to their robust counterparts. Conclusions: Frail IBD patients are at greater risk of postoperative mortality and morbidity, and reduced likelihood of discharge to home, following surgery. This has implications for clinicians designing care pathways for IBD patients following surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Intrathecal adjuvants have gained favour in recent years with the goal of extending the duration of a block. Among these, Dexamethasone possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic action and can be given as an adjuvant to local anaesthetics to enhance the efficacy of regional anaesthesia, as well as to decrease the intensity of shivering. The addition of Magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) to spinal anaesthesia helps in improving postoperative analgesia in an orthopaedic setting. Aim: To compare the effects of Intravenously (i.v.) MgSO4 and i.v. dexamethasone on intraoperative haemodynamics, the time to achieve dermatome T10 intraoperatively, and to compare postoperative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores between the two groups at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. Materials and Methods: This randomised clinical trial was conducted, and patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group M (n=40): MgSO4 40 mg/kg given 15 minutes before spinal anaesthesia in 100 mL normal saline infusion i.v. Group D (n=40): Dexamethasone 8 mg given 15 minutes before spinal anaesthesia in 100 mL normal saline infusion i.v. The parameters assessed included haemodynamic parameters, time to achieve dermatome T10 intraoperatively, postoperative VAS score at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery, and any side-effects like sedation, respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, urinary retention, bradycardia, and hypotension. Statistical testing was conducted using the statistical software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 28.0. Results: There was no significant difference in demographic variables (age and gender) between the two groups (p-value>0.05). However, the decrease in mean heart rate, Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), and Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MAP) was greater in group D compared to group M at different time intervals (p-value<0.05). Additionally, dermatome level T10 was achieved earlier in group D by approximately two minutes compared to group M (6.95±0.39 minutes versus 5.03±0.16 minutes, respectively, p-value<0.001). Conclusion: An i.v. infusion of 8 mg dexamethasone in 100 mL normal saline was more effective compared to an i.v. infusion of 40 mg/kg MgSO4 in terms of achieving more stable haemodynamics intraoperatively and achieving the T10 dermatome level earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In this study, we have investigated the structure, reactivity, bonding, and electronic transitions of DPA and PDTC along with their Ni-Zn complexes using DFT/TD-DFT methods. The energy gap between the frontier orbitals was computed to understand the reactivity pattern of the ligands and metal complexes. From the energies of FMO's, the global reactivity descriptors such as electron affinity, ionization potential, hardness (η), softness (S), chemical potential (μ), electronegativity (χ), and electrophilicity index (ω) have been calculated. The complexes show a strong NLO properties due to easily polarization as indicated by the narrow HOMO–LUMO gap. The polarizability and hyperpolarizabilities of the complexes indicate that they are good candidates for NLO materials. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps identified electrophilic and nucleophilic sites on the surfaces of the complexes. TDDFT and NBO analyses provided insights into electronic transitions, bonding, and stabilizing interactions within the studied complexes. DPA and PDTC exhibited larger HOMO–LUMO gaps and more negative electrostatic potentials compared to their metal complexes suggesting the higher reactivity. Ligands (DPA and PDTC) had absorption spectra in the range of 250 nm to 285 nm while their complexes spanned 250 nm to 870 nm. These bands offer valuable information on electronic transitions, charge transfer and optical behavior. This work enhances our understanding of the electronic structure and optical properties of these complexes. Methods: Gaussian16 program was used for the optimization of all the compounds. B3LYP functional in combination with basis sets, such as LanL2DZ for Zn, Ni and Cu while 6-311G** for other atoms like C, H, O, N, and S was used. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis is carried out to find out how the filled orbital of one sub-system interacts with the empty orbital of another sub-system. The ORCA software is used for computing spectral features along with the zeroth order regular approximation method (ZORA) to observe its relativistic effects. TD-DFT study is carried out to calculate the excitation energy by using B3LYP functional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles and doubles method with double electron attachment (EOM-DEA-CCSD) is capable of computing reliable energies, wave functions, and first-order properties of excited states in diradicals and polyenes that have a significant doubly excited character with respect to the ground state, without the need for including the computationally expensive triple excitations. Here, we extend the capabilities of the EOM-DEA-CCSD method to the calculations of a multiphoton property, two-photon absorption (2PA) cross sections. Closed-form expressions for the 2PA cross sections are derived within the expectation-value approach using response wave functions. We analyze the performance of this new implementation by comparing the EOM-DEA-CCSD energies and 2PA cross sections with those computed using the CC3 quadratic response theory approach. As benchmark systems, we consider transitions to the states with doubly excited character in twisted ethene and in polyenes, for which EOM-EE-CCSD (EOM-CCSD for excitation energies) performs poorly. The EOM-DEA-CCSD 2PA cross sections are comparable with the CC3 results for twisted ethene; however, the discrepancies between the two methods are large for hexatriene. The observed trends are explained by configurational analysis of the 2PA channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This communication reports the effect of Iron (Fe) and Lithium (Li) co-doping on the structural, dielectric and electrical properties of Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3; i.e. (Fe0.5Li0.5)0.1Ba0.7Sr0.2TiO3 (FLBST). The FLBST composite was synthesized by the solid-state mixed oxide method at 1400 °C for 12h. The crystalline phase formation has been confirmed by the X-ray diffraction technique and analyzed through the Rietveld Analysis using X'Pert Highscore plus software. From the XRD analysis, lattice parameters and the average crystallite size was calculated. The electrical properties of sintered (at 1450 °C for 2h) pellets were carried out in the temperature range of 30 °C–350 °C using impedance spectroscopy. Based on the real and imaginary part of the dielectric constant, i) the dipolar contribution which is dominant in 30 °C–150 °C is characterized by Curie-Weiss law and ii) contribution from defects and oxygen vacancies seen beyond 150 °C is described by Arrhenius equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Question: How will Medicare's new health equity adjustment in the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) program, which assigns additional points to hospitals with more dual-eligible patients for providing high-quality care, affect hospital performance and payment adjustments? Findings: In this cross-sectional study of 2676 hospitals participating in the HVBP program, health equity adjustment reclassified 119 of 1206 hospitals (9.9%) from receiving penalties to receiving bonuses. Safety net and high-proportion Black hospitals were significantly more likely to experience increased payment adjustments, as were hospitals located in rural areas and the South. The largest net-positive changes in total payment adjustments were $29.0 million among safety net hospitals and $15.5 million among high-proportion Black hospitals. Meaning: Medicare's new health equity adjustment in the HVBP program will significantly reclassify hospital bonus and penalty status and redistribute program payments, with hospitals caring for minoritized populations and those with low income benefiting the most. Importance: Medicare's Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) program will provide a health equity adjustment (HEA) to hospitals that have greater proportions of patients dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and that offer high-quality care beginning in fiscal year 2026. However, which hospitals will benefit most from this policy change and to what extent are unknown. Objective: To estimate potential changes in hospital performance after HEA and examine hospital patient mix, structural, and geographic characteristics associated with receipt of increased payments. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study analyzed all 2676 hospitals participating in the HVBP program in fiscal year 2021. Publicly available data on program performance and hospital characteristics were linked to Medicare claims data on all inpatient stays for dual-eligible beneficiaries at each hospital to calculate HEA points and HVBP payment adjustments. Exposures: Hospital Value-Based Purchasing program HEA. Main Outcomes and Measures: Reclassification of HVBP bonus or penalty status and changes in payment adjustments across hospital characteristics. Results: Of 2676 hospitals participating in the HVBP program in fiscal year 2021, 1470 (54.9%) received bonuses and 1206 (45.1%) received penalties. After HEA, 102 hospitals (6.9%) were reclassified from bonus to penalty status, whereas 119 (9.9%) were reclassified from penalty to bonus status. At the hospital level, mean (SD) HVBP payment adjustments decreased by $4534 ($90 033) after HEA, ranging from a maximum reduction of $1 014 276 to a maximum increase of $1 523 765. At the aggregate level, net-positive changes in payment adjustments were largest among safety net hospitals ($28 971 708) and those caring for a higher proportion of Black patients ($15 468 445). The likelihood of experiencing increases in payment adjustments was significantly higher among safety net compared with non–safety net hospitals (574 of 683 [84.0%] vs 709 of 1993 [35.6%]; adjusted rate ratio [ARR], 2.04 [95% CI, 1.89-2.20]) and high-proportion Black hospitals compared with non–high-proportion Black hospitals (396 of 523 [75.7%] vs 887 of 2153 [41.2%]; ARR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.29-1.51]). Rural hospitals (374 of 612 [61.1%] vs 909 of 2064 [44.0%]; ARR, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.30-1.58]), as well as those located in the South (598 of 1040 [57.5%] vs 192 of 439 [43.7%]; ARR, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.10-1.42]) and in Medicaid expansion states (801 of 1651 [48.5%] vs 482 of 1025 [47.0%]; ARR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.06-1.28]), were also more likely to experience increased payment adjustments after HEA compared with their urban, Northeastern, and Medicaid nonexpansion state counterparts, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: Medicare's implementation of HEA in the HVBP program will significantly reclassify hospital performance and redistribute program payments, with safety net and high-proportion Black hospitals benefiting most from this policy change. These findings suggest that HEA is an important strategy to ensure that value-based payment programs are more equitable. This cross-sectional study discusses hospital performance after the incorporation of health equity adjustment into Medicare's Hospital Value-Based Purchasing program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) in the mid-infrared (MIR) have the potential to open up numerous opportunities in fields such as exoplanet searches, direct dark matter detection, physical chemistry, and remote sensing. One challenge in pushing SNSPD sensitivity to the MIR is a decrease in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the readout signal, as the critical currents become increasingly smaller. We overcome this trade-off with a device architecture that employs impedance matching tapers and superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetectors to demonstrate increased SNR while maintaining saturated internal detection efficiency at 7.4 μm and approaching saturation at 10.6 μm. This work provides a platform for pushing SNSPD sensitivity to longer wavelengths while enabling the scalability to large arrays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document explores the use of phosphatidylethanol (PEth) testing as a way to monitor alcohol consumption in patients with liver disease, specifically alcohol-associated liver disease. PEth testing detects a metabolite that is produced in the presence of alcohol and can be found in various tissues, including red blood cells. The article acknowledges the benefits of PEth testing in tracking patient progress in reducing alcohol consumption, but also cautions about potential inaccuracies in the results. Factors like recent blood transfusions or bleeding should be considered when interpreting PEth results. The document provides guidelines for evaluating PEth values and offers recommendations for the clinical use of PEth testing in different patient settings, including before and after liver transplantation. A case study is presented to illustrate the potential usefulness of PEth testing in identifying ongoing alcohol use after transplantation. [Extracted from the article]

The issue of traffic mismanagement is getting bad to worse as the trend of urbanization is increasing and posing significant threats to the urban areas. This paper addresses this issue of traffic mismanagement by proposing a Fog-Cloud centric Internet of Things (IoT)-based collaborative framework that enables machine learning-based situation-aware traffic management. This framework monitors the traffic dynamics at the fog layer for providing real-time analytics to the cloud and enabling the traffic situation-aware routing of the vehicles. Whereas the framework at the cloud layer determines the situation-aware analytics by predicting Waiting Time (WaT), Waiting Queue Length (WQueL) and next green phase duration (G) for each Traffic Movement Signal Point (TMSP) based on the real-time data and analytics provided by the fog layer. The road-infrastructure hosted fog layer classifies the In-schedule Reachability Status (IRS) that determines the ability of the vehicle to reach the respective TMSP down the lane before the start of the next green phase. After classifying all such vehicles on a lane by the fog layer, the cloud layer predicts the optimal duration of the next green phase at that respective TMSP to reduce the traffic congestion on the respective junction point and subsequently provides these area-wide analytics to the vehicle hosted fog nodes and traffic controllers on the respective junction points. The vehicles use these analytics for enabling situation-aware vehicle routing functionality by selecting a time optimized path and enabling balanced traffic load on all possible paths. The framework employs Logistic Regression (LR) for IRS classification at the fog layer and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for traffic prediction at the respective TMSP at the cloud layer. The result depiction acknowledges LR's efficiency compared to other employed classifiers in terms of various statistical parameters. The optimal performance of ANN at the learning rate (LeR) of 0.1, momentum rate (MoR) of 0.95, and 500 epochs depict the prediction efficiency of ANN as compared to other used prediction approach. The contribution of this paper is two functionalities-based working of fog computing for providing real-time and situation-aware traffic analytics, adaptive traffic movement phase planning, time optimized navigation, and optimal traffic load balancing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Listeners have many sources of information available in interpreting speech. Numerous theoretical frameworks and paradigms have established that various constraints impact the processing of speech sounds, but it remains unclear how listeners might simultaneously consider multiple cues, especially those that differ qualitatively (i.e., with respect to timing and/or modality) or quantitatively (i.e., with respect to cue reliability). Here, we establish that cross-modal identity priming can influence the interpretation of ambiguous phonemes (Exp. 1, N = 40) and show that two qualitatively distinct cues – namely, cross-modal identity priming and auditory co-articulatory context – have additive effects on phoneme identification (Exp. 2, N = 40). However, we find no effect of quantitative variation in a cue – specifically, changes in the reliability of the priming cue did not influence phoneme identification (Exp. 3a, N = 40; Exp. 3b, N = 40). Overall, we find that qualitatively distinct cues can additively influence phoneme identification. While many existing theoretical frameworks address constraint integration to some degree, our results provide a step towards understanding how information that differs in both timing and modality is integrated in online speech perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exterior beam-column joints (BCJs) in reinforced concrete (RC) structures are critical and often vulnerable elements, particularly under seismic conditions, with the potential for catastrophic structural failure. Achieving robust and ductile joint design is paramount. Although efforts have been made to establish design standards for strong and ductile joints, further research is needed, especially regarding the realization of a weak beam-strong column mechanism in moment frames. This study utilizes finite element modeling (FEM) to enhance BCJs performance by exploring various reinforcement configurations as alternatives to conventional shear stirrups in the joint area. The objective is to address the challenge of reinforcement congestion in the joint area during concrete placement, which can compromise earthquake resistance. Ten FEM models were developed for evaluation, one without additional reinforcement and nine with various reinforcement configurations. The primary focus was on assessing the effectiveness of these configurations in BCJs under monotonic loading by comparing damage–rotation curves, load–deflection curves, and damage distribution. The results show that in-plane diagonal bars outperformed their out-of-plane bars, reducing core damage by 22–37%. Among the configurations, the model with two X-shaped reinforcements, replacing conventional joint stirrups, emerged as the optimal solution. This configuration provided enhanced rotational stiffness, minimized core damage in tension and compression by about 83%, improved load-carrying capacity by 13.7%, and promoted the formation of plastic hinges away from the joint, achieving the sought-after weak beam-strong column mechanism. This research has significant implications for practical design and construction in RC structures, enhancing their resilience to seismic events and contributing to safer built environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioactive Urtica dioica plant extract is used to synthesize ZnFe2O4 and Ag-doped ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs), with the potential to impart additional functional properties to the nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms the crystallinity and formation of nanoparticle phases. The FT-IR spectrum has provided information on the possible interaction between the metal ions and functional groups present in the Urtica dioica extract. FE-SEM images reveal that the nanoparticles prepared by green synthesis are homogeneous and the particles are dispersed uniformly. The average particle size of ZnFe2O4 NPs was determined to be 66 ± 19 nm. However, when Ag was introduced, the Ag-ZnFe2O4 NPs become larger, more developed, and spherical, with a size increase to 79 ± 24 nm. The nanoparticles demonstrated excellent antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungus strains as well as shows significant anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. In comparison of zinc ferrite, Ag-doped Zinc ferrite boosted the potential of nanoparticles and showed more effective results in biological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a Bayesian method for updating linear dynamical systems using complex modal data due to the effects of non-classical damping collected from multiple setups. The practical scenario of the availability of a limited number of sensors is avoided by considering measurements from multiple setups. Besides, the complex modal data is assumed to consist of the most probable values (MPVs) of the modal parameters and their posterior uncertainties, unlike the other approaches where only MPVs of the modal parameters are considered. System modal parameters are introduced as additional uncertain parameters to avoid the requirement of mode matching between the model-predicted and the measured modes. Since introducing the system mode shapes as additional parameters increases the problem dimensionality, the dynamic condensation technique is employed to reduce the finite element (FE) model to a smaller model with fewer degrees of freedom (DOFs) corresponding to the measured DOFs. Detailed formulation leading to the development of the posterior probability density function (PDF) is presented based on the current framework. Transitional Markov chain Monte Carlo (TMCMC) and Metropolis-within-Gibbs (MWG) sampling methodologies are used to approximate the posterior PDF. The effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed methodology are demonstrated using two numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic high pressure treatment (DHPT) either by high pressure homogenization or microfluidisation, is an emerging concept used in the food industry for new products development through macromolecules modifications in addition to simple mixing and emulsification action. Mechanistic understanding of droplets breakup during high pressure homogenization is used to understand how these compact and high molecular weight-sized globular plant proteins are affected during DHPTs. Plant protein needs to be functionalized for advanced use in food formulation. DHPTs brought changes in plant proteins' secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures through alterations in intermolecular and intramolecular interactions, sulfhydryl groups, and disulfide bonds. These structural changes in plant proteins affected their functional and physicochemical properties like solubility, oil and water holding capacity, gelation, emulsification, foaming, and rheological properties. These remarkable changes made utilization of this concept in novel food system applications like in plant-based dairy analogues. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive and critical understanding of DHPTs on their mechanistic and transport approaches for droplet breakup, structural and functional modification of plant macromolecules. This article also explores the potential of DHPT for formulating plant-based dairy analogues to meet healthy and sustainable food consumption needs. It critically reviews high pressure homogenization (HPH) and microfluidisation (DHPM). It explores the mechanistic and transport phenomena approaches of HPH and DHPM HPH and DHPM can induce conformational and structural changes in plant proteins. Improvement in the functional properties of HPH and DHPM treated plant proteins. HPH and DHPM are potentially applicable for plant based dairy alternatives food system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycosylation, a prevalent post-translational modification, plays a pivotal role in regulating intricate cellular processes by covalently attaching glycans to macromolecules. Dysregulated glycosylation is linked to a spectrum of diseases, encompassing cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, congenital disorders, infections, and inflammation. This review delves into the intricate interplay between glycosylation and protein conformation, with a specific focus on the profound impact of N-glycans on the selection of distinct protein conformations characterized by distinct interactomes—namely, protein assemblies—under normal and pathological conditions across various diseases. We begin by examining the spike protein of the SARS virus, illustrating how N-glycans regulate the infectivity of pathogenic agents. Subsequently, we utilize the prion protein and the chaperone glucose-regulated protein 94 as examples, exploring instances where N-glycosylation transforms physiological protein structures into disease-associated forms. Unraveling these connections provides valuable insights into potential therapeutic avenues and a deeper comprehension of the molecular intricacies that underlie disease conditions. This exploration of glycosylation's influence on protein conformation effectively bridges the gap between the glycome and disease, offering a comprehensive perspective on the therapeutic implications of targeting conformational mutants and their pathologic assemblies in various diseases. The goal is to unravel the nuances of these post-translational modifications, shedding light on how they contribute to the intricate interplay between protein conformation, assembly, and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The viscoelasticity of a carbon nanotube (CNT)-laden air–water interface was characterized using two different experimental methods. The first experimental method used a Langmuir-Pockels (LP) trough coupled with a pair of oscillating barriers. The second method is termed the Bicone-Trough (BT) method, where a LP trough was custom-built and fit onto a rheometer equipped with a bicone fixture to standardize the preparation and conditioning of a particle-laden interface especially at high particle coverages. The performance of both methods was evaluated by performing Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis to calculate the signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Overall, the rheometer-based BT method offered better strain control and considerably higher SNRs compared to the Oscillatory Barriers (OB) method that oscillated barriers with relatively limited positional and speed control. For a CNT surface coverage of 165 mg/m2 and a frequency of 100 mHz, the interfacial shear modulus obtained from the OB method increased from 39 to 57 mN/m as the normal strain amplitude increased from 1 to 3%. No linear viscoelastic regime was experimentally observed for a normal strain as small as 0.5%. In the BT method, a linear regime was observed below a shear strain of 0.1%. The interfacial shear modulus decreased significantly from 96 to 2 mN/m as the shear strain amplitude increased from 0.025 to 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the healthcare challenges faced by transgender and gender-diverse individuals with prostates, who may undergo gender-affirming treatments like hormone therapy or surgery. Current guidelines lack specific recommendations for prostate cancer screening in these patients, potentially leading to negative healthcare experiences. It presents a case study of a transgender woman who underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy after penile-inversion vaginoplasty.

The term ‘blue economy’, first introduced in 2010, is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, jobs, ocean health, and to improve livelihoods. However, a sustainable blue economy faces various challenges in the form of global warming, ocean acidification, and lack of knowledge about the ocean; for example, 95% of the sea is still unexplored, making it more important to understand the blue economy and implement it on a global scale. Other challenges include harmful algal blooms (HABs), invasive species, coral bleaching, and thermohaline circulation. This review discusses various aspects of the blue economy like food, value-added products, offshore energy, oxygen source, mining, fisheries, carbon sequestration, and cloud seeding. The future aspects of blue economy, like sustainability, effective policies, and reducing carbon footprints and microplastics are also explored here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycine max (L.) Merr. (soybean) is a multi-purpose crop used for both animal and human feed. It is an economically and industrially important crop. It possesses many therapeutical and nutraceutical compounds. Therefore, soybean is referred to as 'Gold from the soil'. Conventional breeding approaches are laborious and time-consuming. Thus, alternative biotechnological methods, such as in vitro micropropagation, regeneration, and transformation, could be advantageous. Despite the efforts made in the field of soybean micropropagation for haploidy and doubled haploidy, especially androgenesis, the success rate accounts for only approximately 2%. Androgenesis in soybean is lacking primarily due to its recalcitrant nature and differences in the development of microspores within a flower. Haploids and doubled haploids (DHs) have contributed immensely to crop improvement programs. In this review, soybean androgenesis history, production of haploids, and doubled haploids have been highlighted. The factors responsible for the androgenic responses have also been discussed. Furthermore, the review will be helpful in understanding the challenges in the standardization of protocol for the production of haploids and DHs in soybean, which will eventually assist breeding and crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous identification and quantification of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were evaluated for three quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF) acquisition methods. The acquisition methods investigated were MS-Only, all ion fragmentation (All-Ions), and automated tandem mass spectrometry (Auto-MS/MS). Target analytes were the 25 PFAS of US EPA Method 533 and the acquisition methods were evaluated by analyte response, limit of quantification (LOQ), accuracy, precision, and target-suspect screening identification limit (IL). PFAS LOQs were consistent across acquisition methods, with individual PFAS LOQs within an order of magnitude. The mean and range for MS-Only, All-Ions, and Auto-MS/MS are 1.3 (0.34–5.1), 2.1 (0.49–5.1), and 1.5 (0.20–5.1) pg on column. For fast data processing and tentative identification with lower confidence, MS-Only is recommended; however, this can lead to false-positives. Where high-confidence identification, structural characterisation, and quantification are desired, Auto-MS/MS is recommended; however, cycle time should be considered where many compounds are anticipated to be present. For comprehensive screening workflows and sample archiving, All-Ions is recommended, facilitating both quantification and retrospective analysis. This study validated HRMS acquisition approaches for quantification (based upon precursor data) and exploration of identification workflows for a range of PFAS compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Overall wellness depends on oral health. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory studies have linked periodontitis to some systemic diseases. Pregnancy labor, contractions, and delivery are controlled by prostaglandin (PGE 2) levels rise during pregnancy, and labor begins when a critical threshold is reached. These associations support the underlying cause of maternal periodontal disease. Materials and Methods: In the study, 3,885 pregnant women aged 18–40 had singleton babies. All mother participants were clinically evaluated by the primary investigator. The periodontal disease is defined using a few parameters. Based on that the prevalence rate will be evaluated. Result: The prevalence of preterm babies' mothers affected with periodontitis was 0.5% and low-birth weight babies' mothers affected with periodontitis was 1.6%. So, there was a significant result is there. Conclusion: Periodontal health and preterm LBW newborns are highly associated with periodontitis in research. It may modify preterm birth and LBW risk factors. Thus, dentists detect and treat this sickness early, preventing pregnancy difficulties in sensitive mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though listeners readily recognize speech from a variety of talkers, accommodating talker variability comes at a cost: Myriad studies have shown that listeners are slower to recognize a spoken word when there is talker variability compared with when talker is held constant. This review focuses on two possible theoretical mechanisms for the emergence of these processing penalties. One view is that multitalker processing costs arise through a resource-demanding talker accommodation process, wherein listeners compare sensory representations against hypothesized perceptual candidates and error signals are used to adjust the acoustic-to-phonetic mapping (an active control process known as contextual tuning). An alternative proposal is that these processing costs arise because talker changes involve salient stimulus-level discontinuities that disrupt auditory attention. Some recent data suggest that multitalker processing costs may be driven by both mechanisms operating over different time scales. Fully evaluating this claim requires a foundational understanding of both talker accommodation and auditory streaming; this article provides a primer on each literature and also reviews several studies that have observed multitalker processing costs. The review closes by underscoring a need for comprehensive theories of speech perception that better integrate auditory attention and by highlighting important considerations for future research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues related to stable microgrid (MG) operation often pose challenges for engineers and researchers, including energy management, power quality maintenance, and the effect of perturbations. Therefore, continuous measurement and monitoring of the system's stability level require special attention. Thus, motivated and focused on addressing these issues, this paper presents a novel decision-making methodology for determining the MG stability index (MGSI) to comprehensively measure the MG stability level. The proposed index is based on continuously measuring fundamental MG parameters, including voltage, frequency, battery state of charge (SOC), and total harmonic distortion. The influence of these parameters on system stability is considered using 256 rules in a Mamdani-based fuzzy inference system. The proposed methodology is evaluated through seven case studies considering different modes of MG operation, types of loads, and availability of power sources and simulated using MATLAB Simulink software. The results demonstrate variations in MGSI for different investigated scenarios, such that a grid-connected MG system with high renewable output and high battery SOC, along with critical/noncritical load, exhibits the best MGSI compared to an islanded MG system with low renewable output, low battery SOC, and an inductive load that shows least MGSI. Additionally, to demonstrate the credibility of the fuzzy-based controller in complex decision-making, a comparative analysis is performed with the analytic hierarchy process under the multi-criteria decision-making technique. The paper also includes sensitivity analysis that reflects the system's sensitivity to different input sources and robustness analysis of the controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]