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Introduction: Acquired inflammatory Blaschko-linear dermatoses have not been studied extensively. Descriptive studies on segmental vitiligo have yielded insights helpful in counseling patients. Similar insights are expected from studies on other acquired inflammatory Blaschko-linear diseases. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients with an acquired inflammatory Blaschko-linear disease presenting to the dermatology outpatient department of the study center were recruited in a case series. Detailed history and examination, clinical photographs, and histopathological findings were recorded and analyzed. Features were compared between linear and generalized forms to look for any differences. Results: Out of 99 patients, linear lichen planus (n = 47), linear morphea (n = 31), and lichen striatus (n = 9) were observed most commonly. Skin lesions were present in multiple lines in 52 (52.5%). In 12 (12.1%), more than one anatomical site was involved. In 10 (10.1%), two different Blaschko-linear diseases were seen, and in 3 (3.1%) both diseases occurred in the same/adjacent segments. The disease extended from one or both ends in 64 (88.9%). Nineteen (19.2%) had both linear and generalized disease, with linear lesions being more severe than the generalized lesions (P = 0.038133). Some (18/47, 38.3%) linear lichen planus cases showed prominent atrophy since the onset and formed a distinct subset, predominantly over the head and neck site (P < 0.00001). Histopathology of linear lichen planus differed from controls with generalized lesions in terms of having deeper infiltrate (P = 0.000124), and multi-focal, rather than confluent, lichenoid infiltrates. Atrophy was noted from the onset in 13/31 (41.9%) cases of linear morphea. Limitations: Limitations include cross-sectional design and lack of controls with generalized nonlinear diseases. Conclusions: Acquired inflammatory Blaschko-linear disorders show distinct characteristics like involvement of multiple lines and sites, directional progression, and atrophic variants. These can be used for differentiating among different Blaschko-linear diseases, monitoring progression, and counseling patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, quasi‐solid electrolytes (QSEs) "PEO + xwt.% BMIMPF6" for x = 0–20 were prepared by the immobilization of ionic liquid (IL), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF6) to the PEO polymer matrix by solution casting technique. These quasi‐solid electrolytes (QSEs) are in the thin film form of good mechanical integrity. The QSEs are characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Attenuated total reflectance Infrared (ATR‐IR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)/thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), impedance spectroscopy, and electrochemical techniques. XRD/DSC results confirm an increase in the flexibility (and hence polymer chain mobility) with the increasing amount of IL in the QSEs, as confirmed by the analysis of degree of crystallinity (Xc). The maximum room temperature ionic conductivity ~1.32 × 10−5 S. cm−1 is obtained for the 20 wt.% IL (BMIMPF6) added QSEs. The interaction/complexation between the dopant IL‐cation BMIM+ with the ether oxygen (i.e., COC bond of PEO) has been confirmed by FTIR spectroscopic analysis. FESEM results confirm the appearance of crystalline spherical grains (spherulites), whose size decreases with the increasing amount of IL in the membranes and shows overall semicrystalline microstructures. The TGA analysis confirmed that the onset decomposition temperature of the QSEs is found to be ~175°C, which is the sufficient temperature range of operation for the solid‐state electrochemical devices. The electrochemical performances of the QSEs were examined by fabricating the symmetrical electrical double‐layer capacitor (EDLC) device. The fabricated EDLC cell with optimized QSE "PEO + 20 wt.% BMIMPF6" with biomass‐based honeycomb activated carbon (HCAC) electrodes offers specific energy ~5.8 Wh kg−1 at power density ~ 79.9 W kg−1. It also displays excellent cycling stability with 81.3% of the initial specific capacitance after 2500 charge–discharge cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF‐HFP)‐sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) solid polymer electrolytes containing different weight ratios of ionic liquid (IL)—tributylmethylphosphonium iodide (TBMPI) were prepared using solution‐cast approach. Electrochemical impedance data indicates that increasing ionic liquid into polymer electrolyte matrix increases ionic conductivity and the maximum value of ionic conductivity was obtained at 150 wt% TBMPI, having conductivity value of 8.3 × 10−5 S cm−1. The dielectric measurement supports our conductivity data. Ionic transference number measurement affirms this system to be predominantly ionic in nature, while electrochemical stability window (ESW) was found to be 3.4 V. Polarized optical microscopy (POM) along with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) suggest suitability of TBMPI as plasticizer, while infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirms ion interaction, complexation, and composite nature. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows thermal stability of these ionic liquid‐doped polymer electrolytes (ILDPEs). Using maximum conducting ILDPE, a sandwiched supercapacitor has been fabricated which shows stable performance as high as 228 Fg−1 using cyclic voltammetry (CV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Setu Mittal [1]; Binod K. Khaitan (corresponding author) [2]; M. Ramam [2]; Neena Khanna [2]; Rahul Mahajan [2]; Ashu Seith Bhalla [3]; Manoj K. Singh [4]; V. Sreenivas [5] [...], Background: Pigmentary changes of the skin in systemic sclerosis in the form of diffuse hyperpigmentation and salt-and-pepper pigmentation are well documented in the literature; however, its association with disease severity and extent of underlying internal organ involvement has not been well studied. Aims: To assess the correlation between morphology and extent of pigmentary changes with the degree of cutaneous sclerosis and frequency and degree of major organ involvement. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital from December 2014 to November 2016. Consecutive patients of systemic sclerosis attending the outpatient department were screened, and patients satisfying the diagnosis as per the American Rheumatism Association criteria were recruited. Skin sclerosis was quantified using modified Rodnan skin score (MRSS), whereas pigmentary changes were calculated in terms of percentage of body surface area involved by rule-of-nine method. Investigations were carried out depending on organ involvement and as per respective specialty consultations with focus on pulmonary, cardiac, and gastrointestinal systems. Results: Of the 50 patients recruited, all had cutaneous involvement in the form of binding down of skin, followed by pigmentary changes. MRSS was significantly higher in patients with any pigmentary alteration (P = 0.03) compared to those without any pigmentary changes. There was a rising trend in between the MRSS severity and the proportion of patients with hyperpigmentation, and it was statistically significant (P = 0.04). Among systemic involvement, lung was involved in the form of interstitial lung disease in 94 patients (n = 47). However, skin pigmentation of any type was associated with lower high-resolution computed tomography scores (P = 0.02). Conclusion: This study shows that in systemic sclerosis patients presenting with pigmentary skin manifestations, cutaneous sclerosis is significantly higher. Keywords: Cutaneous sclerosis, pigmentation, systemic sclerosis

Recognizing the value of open-source research databases in advancing the art and science of HVAC, in 2014 the ASHRAE Global Thermal Comfort Database II project was launched under the leadership of University of California at Berkeley’s Center for the Built Environment and The University of Sydney’s Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Laboratory. The exercise began with a systematic collection and harmonization of raw data from the last two decades of thermal comfort field studies around the world. The ASHRAE Global Thermal Comfort Database II (Comfort Database), now an online, open-source database, includes approximately 81,846 complete sets of objective indoor climatic observations with accompanying “right-here-right-now” subjective evaluations by the building occupants who were exposed to them. The database is intended to support diverse inquiries about thermal comfort in field settings. A simple web-based interface to the database enables filtering on multiple criteria, including building typology, occupancy type, subjects’ demographic variables, subjective thermal comfort states, indoor thermal environmental criteria, calculated comfort indices, environmental control criteria and outdoor meteorological information. Furthermore, a web-based interactive thermal comfort visualization tool has been developed that allows end-users to quickly and interactively explore the data.