MOF/graphene oxide based composites in smart supercapacitors: a comprehensive review on the electrochemical evaluation and material development for advanced energy storage devices

The surge in interest surrounding energy storage solutions, driven by the demand for electric vehicles and the global energy crisis, has spotlighted the effectiveness of carbon-based supercapacitors in meeting high-power requirements. Concurrently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained attention as a template for their integration with graphene oxide (GO) in composite materials which have emerged as a promising avenue for developing high-power supercapacitors, elevating smart supercapacitor efficiency, cyclic stability, and durability, providing crucial insights for overcoming contemporary energy storage obstacles. The identified combination leverages the strengths of both materials, showcasing significant potential for advancing energy storage technologies in a sustainable and efficient manner. In this research, an in-depth review has been presented, in which properties, rationale and integration of MOF/GO composites have been critically examined. Various fabrication techniques have been thoroughly analyzed, emphasizing the specific attributes of MOFs, such as high surface area and modifiable porosity, in tandem with the conductive and stabilizing features of graphene oxide. Electrochemical characterizations and physicochemical mechanisms underlying MOF/GO composites have been examined, emphasizing their synergistic interaction, leading to superior electrical conductivity, mechanical robustness, and energy storage capacity. The article concludes by identifying future research directions, emphasizing sustainable production, material optimization, and integration strategies to address the persistent challenges in the field of energy storage. In essence, this research article aims to offer a concise and insightful resource for researchers engaged in overcoming the pressing energy storage issues of our time through the exploration of MOF/GO composites in smart supercapacitors.

Enhancing Bone Implants: Magnesium-Doped Hydroxyapatite for Stronger, Bioactive, and Biocompatible Applications

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) with the chemical formula Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 is an inorganic material that exhibits morphology and composition similar to those of human bone tissues, making it highly desirable for bone regeneration applications. As one of the most biocompatible materials currently in use, HAp has undergone numerous attempts to enhance its mechanical strength. This research focuses on investigating the influence of magnesium (Mg) incorporation on the structural and mechanical properties of synthesized magnesium-doped hydroxyapatite (MgHAp) samples. Apart from its biocompatibility, Mg possesses a density and elasticity comparable to those of human bone. Therefore, incorporating Mg into HAp can be pivotal for improving bone formation. Previous studies have not extensively explored the structural changes induced by Mg substitution in HAp, which motivated us to revisit this issue. Hydrothermal synthesis technique was used to synthesize MgHAp samples with varying molar concentrations (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5). Theoretical simulation of HAp and MgHAp for obtaining 3D structures has been done, and theoretical X-ray diffraction (XRD) data have been compared with the experimental XRD data. Rietveld analysis revealed the alteration and deviation of lattice parameters with an increase in the Mg content, which ultimately affect the structure as well the mechanical properties of prepared samples. The findings revealed an increase in compressive stress and fracture toughness as the Mg concentration in the composition increased. Furthermore, using a finite-element analysis technique and modeling of the mechanical testing data, the von Mises stress distribution and Young's modulus values were calculated, demonstrating the similarity of the prepared samples to human cortical bone. Biocompatibility assessments using NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells confirmed the biocompatible and bioactive nature of the synthesized samples. MgHAp exhibits great potential for biomedical applications in the dental, orthopedic, and tissue engineering research fields.

Genetic Basis of Potato Tuber Defects and Identification of Heat-Tolerant Clones

Heat stress during the potato growing season reduces tuber marketable yield and quality. Tuber quality deterioration includes external (heat sprouts, chained tubers, knobs) and internal (vascular discoloration, hollow heart, internal heat necrosis) tuber defects, as well as a reduction in their specific gravity and increases in reducing sugars that result in suboptimal (darker) processed products (french fries and chips). Successfully cultivating potatoes under heat-stress conditions requires planting heat-tolerant varieties that can produce high yields of marketable tubers, few external and internal tuber defects, high specific gravity, and low reducing sugars (in the case of processing potatoes). Heat tolerance is a complex trait, and understanding its genetic basis will aid in developing heat-tolerant potato varieties. A panel of 217 diverse potato clones was evaluated for yield and quality attributes in Dalhart (2019 and 2020) and Springlake (2020 and 2021), Texas, and genotyped with the Infinium 22 K V3 Potato Array. A genome-wide association study was performed to identify genomic regions associated with heat-tolerance traits using the GWASpoly package. Quantitative trait loci were identified on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 11 for external defects and on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 10, and 11 for internal defects. Yield-related quantitative trait loci were detected on chromosomes 1, 6, and 10 pertaining to the average tuber weight and tuber number per plant. Genomic-estimated breeding values were calculated using the StageWise package. Clones with low genomic-estimated breeding values for tuber defects were identified as donors of good traits to improve heat tolerance. The identified genomic regions associated with heat-tolerance attributes and the genomic-estimated breeding values will be helpful to develop new potato cultivars with enhanced heat tolerance in potatoes.

Starch-based antibacterial food packaging with ZnO nanoparticle

Starch-based biofilms with embedded nanoparticles (NPs) are used to wrap food in biodegradable packaging system that has high antibacterial action against a variety of microorganisms. In this study, ZnO NPs were synthesised using both a green synthesis approach utilising Azadirachta indica (Neem) and a chemical synthesis approach using the sol-gel technique. The structural and morphological properties of all synthesized NPs were characterized through XRD, UV-VIS, UV-DRS, FTIR, and FESEM analysis. Further, these NPs were employed in the development of starch-based biodegradable films. A meticulous comparative analysis was performed to evaluate the functional properties of the nanocomposites, encompassing crucial parameters such as film thickness, moisture content, swelling index, opacity, solubility, water vapor permeability, and tensile strength. In comparison to films embedded with chemically synthesised NPs (F1), nanocomposite with green synthesised NPs (F2) showed 15.27% greater inhibition against Escherichia coli growth and 22.05% stronger inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains. Based on the biodegradability analysis, the nanocomposite film-F2 showed a 53.33% faster degradation rate compared to the film-F1. The developed films were utilized to assess the quality of both wrapped and unwrapped grapes, leading to the generalization of the research for the development of starch-based antibacterial and environmentally friendly food packaging material.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05834-9.

Variation and genetic basis of mineral content in potato tubers and prospects for genomic selection

Malnutrition is a major public health concern in many parts of the world. Among other nutrients, minerals are necessary in the human diet. Potato tubers are a good source of minerals; they contribute 18% of the recommended dietary allowance of potassium; 6% of copper, phosphorus, and magnesium; and 2% of calcium and zinc. Increased public interest in improving the nutritional value of foods has prompted the evaluation of mineral content in tubers of advanced genotypes from the Texas A&M Potato Breeding Program and the investigation of the genetics underlying mineral composition in tubers. The objectives of this study were to i) assess phenotypic variation for mineral content in tubers of advanced potato genotypes, ii) identify genomic regions associated with tuber mineral content, and iii) obtain genomic-estimated breeding values. A panel of 214 advanced potato genotypes and reference varieties was phenotyped in three field environments in Texas for the content of 12 minerals in tubers and genotyped using the Infinium Illumina 22K V3 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) Array. There was significant variation between potato genotypes for all minerals evaluated except iron. As a market group, red-skinned potatoes had the highest amount of minerals, whereas russets had the lowest mineral content. Reds had significantly higher P, K, S, and Zn than russets and significantly higher P and Mg than chippers. Russets had significantly higher Ca, Mg, and Na than chippers. However, the chippers had significantly higher K than the russets. A genome-wide association study for mineral content using GWASpoly identified three quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with potassium and manganese content on chromosome 5 and two QTL associated with zinc content on chromosome 7. The loci identified will contribute to a better understanding of the genetic basis of mineral content in potatoes. Genomic-estimated breeding values for mineral macro and micronutrients in tubers obtained with StageWise will guide the selection of parents and the advancement of genotypes in the breeding program to increase mineral content in potato tubers.

Importance of Dipole Orientation in Electrostatic Aerosol Filtration

Electrostatic charge is a major part of modern-day aerosol filtration media (e.g., N95 respirators and surgical facemasks) that has remained poorly understood due to its complicated physics. As such, charging a fibrous material has relied on empiricism in dire need of a mathematical foundation to further advance product design and optimization. In this concern, we have conducted a series of numerical simulations to improve our understanding of how an electrostatically charged fiber captures airborne particles and to quantify how the fiber's dipole orientation impacts its capture efficiency. Special attention was paid to the role of Coulomb and dielectrophoretic forces in the capture of particles of different charge polarities (e.g., particles having a Boltzmann charge distribution). Simulation results were compared with the predictions of the popular empirical correlations from the literature and discussed in detail. Predictions of the empirical correlations better agreed with the simulation results obtained for fibers with a dipole perpendicular to the flow direction rather than for fibers with a dipole parallel to the flow. This indicates that such empirical correlations are more suitable for filters charged via contact electrification (friction charging), where the dipoles are mostly perpendicular to the flow direction, and less suitable for corona-charged media, where the fiber dipoles are generally parallel to the flow direction.

A 3D Deep Convolutional Neural Network for Dose Distribution Prediction of Intracavitary HDR Brachytherapy of Cervical Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The purpose of this work is to develop a voxel-wise dose prediction model using convolutional neural network (CNN) for cervical cancer high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy treatment planning with tandem-and-ovoid (T&O) or tandem-and-ring (T&R) applicators.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A 3D U-NET CNN was implemented to generate voxel-wise dose predictions based on high-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) and organs at risk (OAR) contour information. A multi-institutional cohort of 77 retrospective clinical HDR brachytherapy plans treated to a prescription dose in the range of 4.8-7.0 Gy/fx was used in this study. Those plans were randomly divided into 60%/20%/20% as training, validating, and testing cohorts. Data augmentation techniques were implemented in the training and validation cohort data to increase the number of plans to 252. The model was trained using the mean-squared loss function, Adam optimization algorithm, a learning rate of 0.001, 250 epochs, and a batch size of 8. The model performance was evaluated on the testing dataset by analyzing the outcomes in terms of mean dose values and derived dose-volume-histogram (DVH) indices from 3D dose distributions and comparing the generated dose distributions against the ground-truth dose distributions using dose statistics and clinically meaningful dosimetric indices.

RESULTS

The proposed 3D U-Net model showed competitive accuracy in predicting 3D dose distributions that closely resemble the ground truth dose distributions. The average value of mean absolute error was 0.108±3.617 Gy for HRCTV, 0.074±1.315 Gy for bladder, 0.093±0.981 Gy for rectum, and 0.035±2.789 Gy for sigmoid. The median absolute error was 1.264 Gy for HRCTV, 0. 441 Gy for the bladder, 0.018 Gy for rectum, and 0.019 Gy for sigmoid. Our results showed that the predicted mean D2cc OAR doses in the bladder, rectum, and sigmoid were 4.02±0.93, 3.77±0.57 and 3.36±0.82 Gy in comparison to 4.35±0.98, 3.99±0.53, 3.75±0.83 Gy in clinical plans, respectively, and the mean individual differences (ΔD2cc) were 0.33±0.41, 0.22±0.16 and 0.39±0.45 Gy, respectively. The predicted D90 of the HRCTV was 6.72±0.99 Gy in comparison with 6.83±1.72 Gy in clinical plans. Results indicate a good potential to predict useful dosimetric indices and thus would facilitate an improvement in brachytherapy treatment planning workflow. The proposed model needs less than 5 seconds to predict a full 3D dose distribution of 64 × 64 × 64 voxels for any new patient plan, thus making it sufficient for near real-time applications and aid in decision-making in clinic.

CONCLUSION

The proposed model can be used to predict 3D dose distributions for near real-time decision-making, before planning, for planning quality assurance, and for guiding future automated planning for improved plan consistency, quality, and planning efficiency.

Direction Modulated Brachytherapy Tandem Model Applicators for Treatment Planning of Multi-Institutional Cervical Cancer Cases

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Direction Modulated Brachytherapy (DMBT) offers a means of utilizing an anisotropic source to create more conformal dose distributions when integrated with image-guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT). Authors sought to validate the implementation of nine unique six-channeled, MRI-compatible, novel DMBT tandem applicators of varying physical dimensions within Varian's BrachyVision® (v16.1) treatment planning system (BV-TPS).

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 110 retrospective clinically delivered high-dose-rate (HDR) cervical cancer brachytherapy plans, from three institutions, were re-planned for each of the nine DMBT tandem models within the BV-TPS, using the latest VEGO® inverse optimization algorithm, with dose heterogeneity accounted for through AcurosBV®. Plans consisted of both intracavitary (77 plans) and interstitial (33 plans) cases with an average prescription dose and high-risk clinical target volumes (CTVHR) of 607±113 cGy and 26.96±14.95 [range 6.70-69.58] cm3, respectively. During re-planning, the conventional tandems were replaced by one of the nine DMBT tandem models while leaving ovoids or rings, and needles (if present), in place. A two-step inverse optimization process was performed such that the lowest possible organs at risk (OAR) D2cc doses could be achieved while 1) keeping equivalent target coverage (ΔCTVHR-D90 to within ±0.5%) and, at the same time, 2) maintaining the general pear-shape dose distribution of the original plans.

RESULTS

Noteworthy improvements in plan quality were achieved by all nine DMBT tandem models, which are presented in Table 1. Irrespective of the model, about ∼50 cGy reduction in D2cc across all OARs appear feasible. There is also a general trend of D2cc reductions' magnitude becoming smaller as the CTVHR volume increased due to loss in modulation at distance. Additionally, D2cc reductions in terms of EQD2 [Gy] were calculated assuming each re-plan was delivered throughout the course of treatment, which includes the external beam radiotherapy dose of 45 Gy and showed significant reductions of -6.29±4.38 Gy, -3.80±2.06 Gy, and -4.86±3.02 Gy for the bladder, rectum, and sigmoid, respectively, for DMBT model #9 for example.

CONCLUSION

We have successfully incorporated nine DMBT tandem models into a commercial TPS and re-planned 110 cases, to a total of 990 plans. All nine DMBT tandem models were each able to generate notable D2cc reductions to OARs (∼50 cGy), without compromising target coverage, across plans from multiple institutions with various clinical/optimization practices. The results indicate both a promising impact and smooth integration of DMBT tandem technology into modern clinical IGABT workflow.

Direction Modulated Brachytherapy Tandem Model Applicators for Treatment Planning of Multi-Institutional Cervical Cancer Cases: Removing Needles in Intracavitary-Interstitial Techniques

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To evaluate the potential of nine direction modulated brachytherapy (DMBT) tandem applicator models of various designs to obviate the need for needles during intracavitary-interstitial (IC-IS) cervical cancer brachytherapy.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A cohort of 33 retrospective clinical high dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy plans, from three institutions, were re-planned with Varian's BrachyVision® (v16.1) treatment planning system (BV-TPS), using the latest VEGO® inverse optimization algorithm, with dose heterogeneity accounted for through the AcurosBV® model-based dose calculation algorithm. All plans consisted of IC-IS cases, with a range of 2-4 freehand-loaded needles, with an average prescription dose of 706±54 cGy and average high-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) of 36.0±17.4 [range 9.8-69.6] cm3. Nine novel DMBT tandem models of varying physical dimensions were integrated for the first time into the BV-TPS, with thicknesses (4-8 mm). During re-planning, the conventional tandems and all of the needles were replaced by one of the nine DMBT tandem models while leaving the ovoids/rings in place. An optimization process was performed such that the lowest possible organs at risk (OAR) D2cc doses could be achieved while keeping equivalent target coverage (ΔHRCTV-D90 to within ±0.5%) and maintaining a pear-shape dose distribution. The process was repeated for each of the nine DMBT tandem models resulting in (33 × 9 =) 297 plans.

RESULTS

Average ΔHRCTV-D90 was +0.35±0.39% (+2.8±3.1 cGy). OAR D2cc reductions were achieved by all models for all plans. The performance of the thickest DMBT model (8 mm) was the best in terms of achieving the lowest D2cc for all OARs, with 31 out of 33 plans (94%) achieving lower D2cc doses for all three OARs. The two cases in which the D2cc doses could not be reduced had HRCTV volumes ranging between 50 cm3 and 60 cm3. Additionally, D2cc reductions in terms of EQD2 [Gy] were calculated assuming each re-plan was delivered throughout the entire course of a patient's treatment, which included the external beam radiotherapy dose of 45 Gy, showed significant reductions of -2.64±2.67 Gy, -1.65±1.97 Gy, and -2.80±2.20 Gy for bladder, rectum, and sigmoid, respectively.

CONCLUSION

According to the results, it is clinically feasible to replace the conventional IC-IS cases, with 2-4 freehand-loaded needles, with the DMBT tandem technology, effectively avoiding the need for needle involvement.

Combining Novel Direction Modulated Brachytherapy Tandem-and-Ovoids Applicators for Treatment Planning of Multi-Institutional Cervical Cancer Cases: Removing Needles in Intracavitary-Interstitial Techniques

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Lack of standard guidelines for optimal needle insertion during high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary-interstitial (IC-IS) brachytherapy of the cervix means a sophisticated and technical skillset of inserting needles next to IC applicators must be developed to enhance plan quality. This study sought to evaluate the performance of two separate direction modulated brachytherapy (DMBT) tandem applicators used in conjunction with one set of novel DMBT ovoids, uniquely designed to effectively obviate the need for IS needles.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A cohort of 32 retrospective clinical HDR brachytherapy plans, from three institutions, were re-planned with Varian's BrachyVision® (v16.1) treatment planning system (BV-TPS), using the latest VEGO® inverse optimization algorithm, with dose heterogeneity accounted for through the AcurosBV®. All plans consisted of IC-IS cases, with a range of 2-4 freehand-loaded needles, with an average prescription dose of 709±53 cGy, and with an average high-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) of 36.73±17.15 [range 9.8-69.6] cm3. Two DMBT tandem models of 5.4-mm and 8.0-mm thicknesses along with a novel DMBT ovoids design, introduced for the first time, with 9 equi-angled grooves and 10-mm-diameter thickness. During re-planning, the conventional tandems, ovoids/rings, and all of the needles were replaced by one of the two DMBT tandem models and a set of DMBT ovoids. A two-step inverse optimization process was performed to achieve the lowest possible OAR D2cc doses while 1) keeping equivalent target coverage (ΔHRCTV-D90 to within ±0.5%) and 2) maintaining the general pear-shape dose distribution used by the original plans. For all plans, this process was repeated using each of the two DMBT tandem-and-ovoids combinations for a total re-planning of (32×2 =) 64 cases.

RESULTS

On average, -47.15±29.61 (-40.40±34.90) cGy, -42.98±26.58 (-41.70±27.40) cGy, and -40.47±25.05 (-32.55±25.30) cGy reductions in D2cc across bladder, rectum, and sigmoid, respectively, were achieved for the 8-mm (5.4-mm) DMBT tandem-and-ovoids combinations while the average ΔHRCTV-D90 was +4.3±2.9 cGy (+0.5%±0.4%). Additionally, D2cc reductions in terms of EQD2 [Gy] were calculated and showed significant reductions of -4.05±2.47 (-3.37±2.83) Gy, -2.71±1.79 (-2.59±1.74) Gy, and -3.27±1.96 (-2.65±2.06) Gy for bladder, rectum, and sigmoid, respectively with an average net increase in total dwell times of 241.0±87.6 seconds at the luxury of avoiding IS needle insertions.

CONCLUSION

It is clinically feasible to obviate the need for IS needles by incorporating the DMBT tandem-and-ovoids while producing lower OAR D2cc doses and maintaining equivalent target coverage.

Charge transfer and X-ray absorption investigations in aluminium and copper co-doped zinc oxide nanostructure for perovskite solar cell electrodes

This study explores influence of charge transfer and X-ray absorption characteristics in aluminum (Al) and copper (Cu) co-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures for perovskite solar cell electrodes. Sol-gel technique was employed to synthesize the nanostructures, and their optical and morphological properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed high crystallinity and also single-phase composition of all the samples, particularly up to 5% Al co-doping. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) exhibited the formation of pseudo-hexagonal wurtzite nanostructure and the transition to nanorods at 5% Al co-doping. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy indicated a reduction in the optical band gap of co-doped zinc oxide from 3.11 to 2.9 eV with increasing Al doping. Photoluminescence spectra (PL) exhibited a decrease in peak intensity, suggesting enhanced conductivity in ZnO, also confirmed from I-V measurements. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) analysis depicts that charge transfer from Al to oxygen (O) species enhanced the photosensing properties of the nanostructure, which was supported by FESEM micrographs and PL spectra. Furthermore, the study discovered that 5% Al co-doping significantly reduced the density of emission defects (deep-level) in Cu-ZnO nanostructure. These findings highlight the potential of Cu and Al co-doped ZnO materials for perovskite solar cell electrodes, as their improved optical and morphological properties resulting from charge transfer could enhance device performance. The investigation of charge transfer and X-ray absorption characteristics provides valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms and behaviors of the co-doped ZnO nanostructures. However, further research is required to delve into the intricate hybridization resulting from charge transfer and explore the broader impact of co-doping on other properties of the nanostructures, enabling a comprehensive understanding of their potential applications in perovskite solar cells.

Enhancement of Fracture Toughness in carbonate doped Hydroxyapatite based nanocomposites: Rietveld analysis and Mechanical behaviour

Highly nanocrystalline carbonated hydroxyapatite (CHAp) is synthesized by hydrothermal technique with four different stoichiometric compositions for microstructural and mechanical analysis. HAp is one of the most biocompatible material and addition of carbonate ions lead to increase in fracture toughness highly required in biomedical applications. The structural properties and its purity as single phase is confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Lattice imperfections and structural defects is investigated using XRD pattern model simulation, i.e. Rietveld's analysis. The substitution of CO₃^2- in HAp structure leads to a decrease in crystallinity which ultimately lessens crystallite size of sample as verified by XRD analysis. FE-SEM micrographs confirms the formation of nanorods with cuboidal morphology and porous structure of HAp and CHAp samples. The particle size distribution histogram validates the constant decrease in size due to carbonate addition. The mechanical testing of prepared samples revealed the increase in mechanical strength from 6.12 MPa to 11.52 MPa due to the addition of carbonate content, which leads to a rise in fracture toughness, a significant property of an implant material from 2.93 kN to 4.22 kN. The cumulative effect of CO₃^2- substitution on HAp structure and mechanical properties has been generalized for the application as biomedical implant material or biomedical smart materials.

Raman spectroscopy detects chemical differences between potato tubers produced under normal and heat stress growing conditions

Potato is the most consumed vegetable worldwide. Potato tubers contain water, starch, proteins, minerals, and vitamins. The amounts of these chemicals depend on the cultivar and growing location. When potatoes are exposed to high temperatures during the growing period, tuber yield and quality are detrimentally affected; however, there is limited knowledge about the influence of high temperatures on tuber chemical composition. With temperatures rising around the globe, the reaction of potato cultivars to high temperatures is increasingly important, and heat-induced changes, including changes in the chemical composition of tubers, should be considered. The Texas A&M University Potato Breeding Program has been selecting potato clones under high-temperature conditions for many years. Several released cultivars are considered heat-tolerant based on high marketable yields and low internal and external tuber defects. In this study, we used Raman spectroscopy (RS), an analytical tool, to determine whether heat stress causes changes in the chemical composition of tubers of ten potato cultivars. RS is a non-invasive method that requires less time and labor than conventional chemical analysis. We found drastic changes in the intensities of vibrational bands that originate from carbohydrates in the spectra acquired from tubers of heat-stressed plants compared to tubers produced by potato plants grown under normal conditions. These results demonstrate that RS could be used as a replacement or complement to conventional chemical analysis to inspect the effect of heat stress on tuber chemical composition.

Outcome of Three Dimensional Printed Functional Prostheses for Children with Upper Limb Deficiency in Nepal

Background Children with congenital and traumatic upper limb amputation are undervalued in a low and middle-income country (LMIC) like Nepal. The use of a prosthetic hand can give them a feeling of self-reliance to perform their daily activities. However, prosthesis require periodic maintenance and replacement which could be a financial burden to some families. The e-Nable community has designed and developed three dimension printed prosthetic hands for children under 19 years old, and distributed them free of cost. Objective To explore the functionality of the three dimension printed prosthetic hands using semi-structured questionnaires and assess a series of daily tasks after three months prosthetic use. Method This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2019 to June 2020, after receiving an ethical clearance from the Nepal Health Research Council (Registration number: 582/2019). Seventy six children (5-18 years old) who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. Data were collected using semistructured questionnaires, and observational methods to identify the benefits and drawbacks of the three dimensional prosthetic hands. Mean, standard deviation, and percentage were used to interpret the data. Result All participants could only lift light objects such as tray, tennis ball or a bottle of water. They had difficulty with those task that required complex movement and with lifting heavy objects. Moreover, only 47(61.8%) participants were completely satisfied with the prosthetic hand and the major reasons for dissatisfaction were tear of the rubber band or cord, and broken parts. Conclusion Participant were able to complete certain tasks using the e-Nable community three dimensional printed prosthetic hands.

Property Modulation of Graphene Oxide Incorporated with TiO2 for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Graphene oxide (GO) nano-powder is synthesized by the modified Hummer's method, and further thin films are deposited by using the water solution of GO through spin-coating. These films are thermally reduced along with the synthesized GO nano-powder at 50 to 200 °C in a high vacuum. Microstructural, electrical, and optical properties are expectedly controlled by thermal reduction. The electronic properties of GO are investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure. The reduction is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The work function and band gap of GO are tuned with the thermal reduction. The changes in properties of GO are not linear, and anomalous changes are observed for the reduction around 150 °C. Pristine and reduced GO nano-powder is incorporated into TiO₂ paste to be the photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). It is observed that the performance of the fabricated cells is significantly enhanced for the GO reduced at 150 °C, and the cell exhibited a significant increment of ∼23% for the power conversion efficiency in comparison to DSSC based on an unmodified TiO₂ photoanode.

P-017 Impact of yoga intervention on immunosenescence, fertility potential and quality of life in men with Rheumatoid arthritis

Study question

Can a yoga intervention bring about alterations in immune aging, fertility potential and quality of life in men with Rheumatoid arthritis?

Summary answer

Yoga not only reduces disease severity, minimizes usage of drugs but also reduces the rate of immune aging and cellular aging.

What is known already

The complex mechanism of Rheumatoid arthritis with infertility in men involves interactions between endocrine, immune, and reproductive systems. Association of autoimmunity with dysregulated androgen (hypogonadism) levels may cause transient infertility in men. Furthermore, usage of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, sulphasalazine etc. may result into decreased quantity and quality of sperm, mitochondrial dysfunctions, reduced fertility potential and ultimately permanent infertility. These drugs can cross blood-testis-barrier and induce changes in sperm impairing spermatogenesis. Complementary and alternative medicine like yoga reduces seminal oxidative stress and its consequences like DNA fragmentation in sperm nuclear/mitochondrial genome.

Study design, size, duration

Fifty males with RA were enrolled in this 12-week prospective, open-label, single-arm exploratory study, designed to explore the impact of yoga intervention on immunosenescence, fertility potential and quality of life (QoL).

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The participants were evaluated for pre (day 0) and post (12th week) levels of inflammatory markers: IL-6, IL-17A, TGF-β and TNF-α. T cell sub-set populations along with their aged T cell profiles for immunosenescence as well as telomere length and telomerase activity for cellular aging were studied. Seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were estimated as per WHO 2010 guidelines. QoL was measured by WHOQOL-BREF Scale.

Main results and the role of chance

There was significant reduction in mean levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17A and elevation in TGF-β after 12 weeks. A significant reduction was seen in seminal ROS levels, 8-OHdG and DFI as well. There was a significant decline in aged T cell populations after yoga. There was no change seen in the telomere length but there was an improvement in the telomerase activity. The participants showed significant improvements in QoL after 12 weeks.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Compliance of patients for Yoga intervention was poor, hence we enrolled large number of patients to achieve the desirable sample size.

Wider implications of the findings

Adoption of yoga intervention holds the key to maintaining immune homeostasis, reduction of inflammation, reduction in the rate of cellular aging, improved overall QoL, and its associated consequences associated with physical, mental, and reproductive health.

Trial registration number

N/A

Metal organic frameworks for electrochemical sensor applications: A review

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are broadly known as porous coordination polymers, synthesized by metal-based nodes and organic linkers. MOFs are used in various fields like catalysis, energy storage, sensors, drug delivery etc., due to their versatile properties (tailorable pore size, high surface area, and exposed active sites). This review presents a detailed discussion of MOFs as an electrochemical sensor and their enhancement in the selectivity and sensitivity of the sensor. These sensors are used for the detection of heavy metal ions like Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Cu²⁺ from groundwater. Various types of organic pollutants are also detected from the water bodies using MOFs. Furthermore, electrochemical sensing of antibiotics, phenolic compounds, and pesticides has been explored. In addition to this, there is also a detailed discussion of metal nano-particles and metal-oxide based composites which can sense various compounds like glucose, amino acids, uric acid etc. The review will be helpful for young researchers, and an inspiration to future research as challenges and future opportunities of MOF-based electrochemical sensors are also reported.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases ror1/2 and ryk Are Co-expressed with Multiple Wnt Signaling Components During Early Development of Sea Urchin Embryos

AbstractA combination of receptors, co-receptors, and secreted Wnt modulators form protein complexes at the cell surface that activate one or more of the three different Wnt signaling pathways (Wnt/β-catenin, Wnt/JNK, and Wnt/Ca²⁺). Two or more of these pathways are often active in the same cellular territories, forming Wnt signaling networks; however, the molecular mechanisms necessary to integrate information from these pathways in these situations are unclear in any in vivo model system. Recent studies have implicated two Wnt binding receptor tyrosine kinases, receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor (Ror) and related-to-receptor tyrosine kinase (Ryk), in the regulation of canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways, depending on the context; however, the spatiotemporal expression of these genes in relation to Wnt signaling components has not been well characterized in most deuterostome model systems. Here we use a combination of phylogenetic and spatiotemporal gene expression analyses to characterize Ror and Ryk orthologs in sea urchin embryos. Our phylogenetic analysis indicates that both ror1/2 and ryk originated as single genes from the metazoan ancestor. Expression analyses indicate that ror1/2 and ryk are expressed in the same domains of many Wnt ligands and Frizzled receptors essential for the specification and patterning of germ layers along the early anterior-posterior axis. In addition, both genes are co-expressed with Wnt signaling components in the gut, ventral ectoderm, and anterior neuroectoderm territories later in development. Together, our results indicate that Ror and Ryk have a complex evolutionary history and that their spatiotemporal expression suggests that they could contribute to the complexity of Wnt signaling in early sea urchin embryogenesis.

Development of an in vitro Microtuberization and Temporary Immersion Bioreactor System to Evaluate Heat Stress Tolerance in Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.)

High temperature (heat) stress reduces tuber yield and quality of potatoes. Screening potatoes for heat tolerance is increasingly important, considering the climate change scenario and expansion of potatoes to countries where heat stress is an issue. In vitro screening for tolerance to abiotic stresses offers several advantages, including quick evaluation of numerous genotypes (clones) in reduced space, controlled environmental conditions (temperature and photoperiod), and free from confounding variables inherent to greenhouse and field conditions. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using a temporary immersion bioreactor system for heat tolerance screening of potatoes. We determined the best hormone-free microtuberizing media for this system (MSG with 8% sucrose) to enhance microtuber number and size. Comparisons of microtubers produced at 30°C as heat treatment, with 16°C as normal condition, allowed to identify heat tolerant and susceptible potato clones. The use of bioreactors allowed distinguishing well-formed (non-deformed) from deformed microtubers. Heat stress increased the total biomass of plant tissues in all the clones. However, the effect of heat stress on microtuber number and weight varied among the clones. Incubation at 30°C decreased the weight and number of non-deformed microtubers in all the clones except for Reveille Russet in which the weight of non-deformed microtubers was significantly increased and the count of non-deformed microtubers was not affected. The potato variety Reveille Russet, which was selected under high-temperature field conditions in Texas, had many non-deformed microtubers per explant and the highest microtuber weight among four clones evaluated under heat stress. We described a faster and reliable in vitro microtuberization system for abiotic stress tolerance screening, identified Reveille Russet as a promising heat-tolerant potato variety, and confirmed Russet Burbank and Atlantic as susceptible heat-tolerant checks.

Psychosocial Problems among the Adolescent School Students of Dhulikhel Municipality

Background Adolescence is a period when an individual experiences a variety of biological, psychological and social changes. These multiple changes during the developmental period can make the adolescents vulnerable to mental health problems. Therefore early detection of psychosocial problems and addressing the need of the adolescents are crucial for promoting their mental health. Objective To assess psychosocial problems and its associated factors among school going adolescents of Dhulikhel, Nepal. Method A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 513 adolescents studying in grade 8 to 12 of randomly selected schools of Dhulikhel Municipality. Data were collected by using structured questionnaire and Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth Report (Y-PSC). Descriptive and inferential analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. Result Out of 513 adolescent students, a total of 133(25.9%) of the adolescents were found to have psychosocial problems. There was significant association between psychosocial problems and respondents' variables like age, grade, parental education status, respondents' living status, perceived family disputes, perceived marital problems of parents, relationship problem with family, stress of failure in study, punishment faced in home and school, experienced sexual harassment and death of loved ones. Conclusion Various family related factors and stressful life events of adolescents are associated with the psychosocial problems. Hence early intervention focusing on awareness and modification of stressful life events is required.

Urine Cells-derived iPSCs: An Upcoming Frontier in Regenerative Medicine

There is a momentous surge in the development of stem cell technology as a therapeutic and diagnostic tools. Stem cell-derived cells are currently used in various clinical trials. However, key issues and challenges involve the low differentiation efficiency, integration, and functioning of transplanted stem cells-derived cells. Extraction of bone marrow, adipose, or other mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) involves invasive methods, specialized skills, and expensive technologies. Urine-derived cells, on the other hand, are obtained by non-invasive methods. Samples can be obtained repeatedly from patients of any age. Urine-derived cells are used to generate reprogrammed or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which can be cultured, and differentiated into various types of cell lineages for biomedical investigations and drug testing in vitro or in vivo using model animals of human diseases. Urine cell-derived iPSCs (UiPSCs) have emerged as a major area of research and immense therapeutic significance. Given that preliminary preclinical studies are successful in terms of safety and as a regenerative tool, the UiPSCs will pave the way to develop and expedite various types of autologous stem cell therapies.

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of impact of COVID-19 on sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Indian subcontinent with a focus on air quality

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading all over the world in a short time. It originated from Wuhan City of China in the late 2019. Proper vaccines have still been in progress; the spread of the virus is contracted by lockdown and social distancing protocols. These lockdowns resulted in significant benefits, improving the quality of air and reducing the level of environmental pollution. In this context, the study proposes to identify the air quality in the region and its relation with COVID-19-affected people in metropolitan cities of India during COVID-19 lockdowns using a geographical information system (GIS), where over 90% of commercial and industrial sites and 100% school and colleges were closed. The study outcomes highlight the areas encountering high levels of pollution under the pre-lockdown scenario and have seen a higher number of cases. The relation is most evident for PM_2.5, which is responsible for respiratory disorders and is the place of attack of SARS-CoV-2. This approach provides comparable outcomes with other decision-making tools. Our primary precedence should be to develop communities to enable people to remain healthy and stay. Healthy societies are crucial not only for people's health, but also for sustainable development. Centered on GIS is concealed; moreover, it is very flexible to use by policymakers.

Case Report: Pulmonary tuberculosis and raised transaminases without pre-existing liver disease- Do we need to modify the antitubercular therapy?

We report a case of an adult female with pulmonary tuberculosis who had biochemical evidence of liver injury during the presentation manifested as raised transaminases, but without clinically obvious pre-existing liver disease nor a history of hepatotoxic drug use. This is a fairly common scenario seen in tuberculosis endemic areas; however, this is an under reported condition in the literature and guidelines for its management has not been established. Many clinicians including the authors have treated such cases with modified liver friendly regimens in fear of increasing the hepatotoxicity with standard antitubercular drugs. However, the modified regimens may not be optimal in treating the underlying tuberculosis. In this report, we gave full dose standard drugs, and the liver injury resolved as evidenced by normalization of transaminases. Further research is required in this regard, but the presence of transaminitis with no obvious common underlying etiology may not warrant a modification of standard antitubercular regimen.

Nanotechnology and its challenges in the food sector: a review

Antibacterial activity of nanoparticles has received significant attention worldwide because of their great physical and chemical stability, excellent magnetic properties, and large lattice constant values. These properties are predominate in the food science for enhancing the overall quality, shelf life, taste, flavor, process-ability, etc., of the food. Nanoparticles exhibit attractive antibacterial activity due to their increased specific surface area leading to enhanced surface reactivity. When nanoparticles are suspended in the biological culture, they encounter various biological interfaces, resulting from the presence of cellular moieties like DNA, proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, etc., which helps antibacterial properties in many ways. This paper reviews different methods used for the synthesis of nanoparticles but is specially focusing on the green synthesis methods owing to its non-toxic nature towards the environment. This review highlights their antibacterial application mainly in the food sector in the form of food-nanosensors, food-packaging, and food-additives. The possible mechanism of nanoparticles for their antibacterial behavior underlying the interaction of nano-particles with bacteria, (i) excessive ROS generation including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), OH^- (hydroxyl radicals), and O^- ₂ ² (peroxide); and (ii) precipitation of nano-particles on the bacterial exterior; which, disrupts the cellular activities, resulting in membranes disturbance. All these phenomena results in the inhibition of bacterial growth. Along with this, their current application and future perspectives in the food sector are also discussed. Nanoparticles help in destroying not only pathogens but also deadly fungi and viruses. Most importantly it is required to focus more on the crop processing and its containment to stop the post-harvesting loss. So, nanoparticles can act as a smart weapon towards the sustainable move.

Case Report: Treating pulmonary tuberculosis with transaminitis with standard antitubercular four drugs therapy

We report a case of pulmonary tuberculosis with transaminitis during the presentation but without any pre-existing liver disease or hepatotoxic drug use. This is a fairly common scenario seen in tuberculosis endemic areas; however, this is an under reported condition in the literature and guidelines for its management has not been established. Many clinicians including the authors have treated such cases with modified liver friendly regimens in fear of increasing the hepatotoxicity with standard drugs. However, the modified regimens may not be optimal in treating the underlying tuberculosis. In this report, we gave full dose standard antitubercular drugs, and the liver injury resolved evidenced by normalization of transaminases.

Morphology and Interconnected Microstructure-Driven High-Rate Capability of Li-Rich Layered Oxide Cathodes

A Li-rich layered oxide (LLO) cathode with morphology-dependent electrochemical performance with the composition Li_1.23Mn_0.538Ni_0.117Co_0.114O₂ in three different microstructural forms, namely, randomly shaped particles, platelets, and nanofibers, is synthesized through the solid-state reaction (SSR-LLO), hydrothermal method (HT-LLO), and electrospinning process (ES-LLO), respectively. Even though the cathodes possess different morphologies, structurally they are identical. The elemental dispersion studies using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping in scanning transmission electron microscopy show uniform distribution of elements. However, SSR-LLO and ES-LLO nanofibers show slight Co-rich regions. The electrochemical studies of LLO cathodes are evaluated in terms of charging/discharging, C-rate capability, and cyclic stability performances. A high reversible capacity of 275 mA h g^-1 is achieved in the fibrous LLO cathode which also demonstrates good high-rate capability (80 mA h g^-1 at 10 C-rate). These capacities and rate capabilities are superior to those of SSR-LLO [210.5 mA h g^-1 (0.1 C-rate) and 4 mA h g^-1 (3 C-rate)] and HT-LLO [242 mA h g^-1 (0.1 C-rate) and 22 mA h g^-1 (10 C-rate)] cathodes. The ES-LLO cathode exhibits 88% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 1 C-rate. A decrease in voltage on cycling is found to be common in all three cathodes; however, minimal voltage decay and capacity loss are observed in ES-LLO upon cycling. Well-connected small LLO particles constituting fibrous microstructural forms in ES-LLO provide an enhanced electrolyte/cathode interfacial area and reduced diffusion path length for Li⁺. This, in turn, facilitates superior electrochemical performance of the electrospun Co-low LLO cathode suitable for quick charge battery applications.

Nanomaterials in the advancement of hydrogen energy storage

The hydrogen economy is the key solution to secure a long-term energy future. Hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and its usage completes the unit of an economic system. These areas have been the topics of discussion for the past few decades. However, its storage methods have conflicted for on-board hydrogen applications. In this review, the promising systems based on solid-state hydrogen storage are discussed. It works generally on the principles of chemisorption and physisorption. The usage of hydrogen packing material in the system enhances volumetric and gravimetric densities of the system and helps in improving ambient conditions and system kinetics. Numerous aspects like pore size, surface area ligand functionalization and pore volume of the materials are intensively discussed. This review also examines the newly developed research based on MOF (Metal-Organic Frameworks). These hybrid clusters are employed for nano-confinement of hydrogen at elevated temperatures. A combination of the various methodologies may give another course to a wide scope in the area of energy storage materials later in the future.

Structural and Optical Properties of GaN Film on Copper and Graphene/Copper Metal Foils Grown by Laser Molecular Beam Epitaxy

We report the direct growth of crystalline GaN on bare copper (Cu) and monolayer-graphene/Cu metal foils using laser molecular beam epitaxy technique at growth temperature of 700 °C. The surface morphology investigated with field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that the size of GaN grains for film grown on bare Cu falls in range of 90 to 160 nm whereas large grains with size of ˜200 to 600 nm was obtained for GaN grown on graphene/Cu foil under similar growth condition. The transverse optical mode of cubic GaN and E₂ (high) phonon mode for wurtzite GaN phases were obtained on the GaN film grown on Cu and graphene/Cu metal foils as deduced by Raman spectroscopy. The photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy studies showed that the near band edge emission peaks for GaN on Cu and graphene/Cu consist two major peaks at 3.26 and 3.4 eV, corresponding to cubic and wurtzite GaN, respectively. The Raman and PL studies disclosed that the mixed phase growth of GaN occurs on these foils and better structural and optical quality for GaN on graphene/Cu foil. The direct growth of GaN on two dimensional graphene on polycrystalline metal foils is beneficial various transferrable and flexible opto-electronics device applications.

P1127Occurrence, management and outcomes of iatrogenic aortic dissections as a complication of catheter ablation. A multicenter study

Background

Data on occurrence, management and outcomes of iatrogenic aortic dissections (IAD) as a complication of catheter ablation (CA) do not exist.

Purpose

To evaluate multicenter data on occurrence, management and outcomes of IAD as a complication of CA.

Methods

Data on occurrence, management and outcomes of documented vascular dissections from 10 centers were evaluated.

Results

IADs occurred in 7 patients (2 females, age 63 ± 8 years). Indications for CA were frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVC)/ventricular tachycardia (VT) in 6 patients (86%) and left-sided accessory pathway in the remaining one (14%). Hypertension was most frequent comorbidity (4 pts, 57%).  All IADs occurred during retrograde advancement of ablation catheter. In the vast majority of patients creation of IAD during catheter advancement was not associated with any symptoms (6 pts, 86%). IAD was initially detected using trans-luminal angiogram in 5 (71%) and further confirmed using computed tomography (CT) (5 pts, 71%), conventional angiography (2 pts, 28%) and ultrasound (2 pts, 28%). One IAD was detected during CT scan performed for other indication after CA. There was one IAD-related death and IAD was evaluated post-mortem. Follow-up lasted 10 ± 19 months. Four patients were treated conservatively, one patient underwent descending aorta stenting and one femoral artery stenting.

Conclusions

IAD during CA is a rare but can be devastating. Early recognition can be difficult. Conservative management of IAD is an option of treatment.

Maximizing Short Circuit Current Density and Open Circuit Voltage in Oxygen Vacancy-Controlled Bi1-xCaxFe1-yTiyO3-δ Thin-Film Solar Cells

Designing solid-state perovskite oxide solar cells with large short circuit current (J_SC) and open circuit voltage (V_OC) has been a challenging problem. Epitaxial BiFeO₃ (BFO) films are known to exhibit large V_OC (>50 V). However, they exhibit low J_SC (≪μA/cm²) under 1 Sun illumination. In this work, taking polycrystalline BiFeO₃ thin films, we demonstrate that oxygen vacancies (V_O) present within the lattice and at grain boundary (GB) can explicitly be controlled to achieve high J_SC and V_OC simultaneously. While aliovalent substitution (Ca²⁺ at Bi³⁺ site) is used to control the lattice V_O, Ca and Ti cosubstitution is used to bring out only GB-V_O. Fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)/Bi_1-xCa_xFe_1-yTi_yO_3-δ/Au devices are tested for photovoltaic characteristics. Introducing V_O increases the photocurrent by four orders (J_SC ∼ 3 mA/cm²). On the contrary, V_OC is found to be <0.5 V, as against 0.5-3 V observed for the pristine BiFeO₃. Ca and Ti cosubstitution facilitate the formation of smaller crystallites, which in turn increase the GB area and thereby the GB-V_O. This creates defect bands occupying the bulk band gap, as inferred from the diffused reflection spectra and band structure calculations, leading to a three-order increase in J_SC. The cosubstitution, following a charge compensation mechanism, decreases the lattice V_O concentration significantly to retain the ferroelectric nature with enhanced polarization. It helps to achieve V_OC (3-8 V) much larger than that of BiFeO₃ (0.5-3 V). It is noteworthy that as Ca substitution maintains moderate crystallite size, the lattice V_O concentration dominates GB-V_O concentration. Notwithstanding, both lattice and GB-V_O contribute to the increase in J_SC; the former weakens ferroelectricity, and as a consequence, undesirably, V_OC is lowered well below 0.5 V. Using optimum J_SC and V_OC, we demonstrate that the efficiency ∼0.22% can be achieved in solid-state BFO solar cells under AM 1.5 one Sun illumination.

Combination of microwave and gamma irradiation for reduction of aflatoxin B1 and microbiological contamination in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a natural carcinogen commonly present in food and feed which has deleterious effects on human and animal health. Combination treatment of microwave heating and gamma irradiation has been investigated. Artificially spiked peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) were used with a concentration of 300 μg/kg of AFB1 to evaluate the treatment efficacy. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of AFB1 was carried out by one dimensional thin layer chromatography and enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Gamma irradiation (5, 7 and 9 kGy) alone reduced 20 to 43% of AFB1, while, only low power microwave heating (360, 480 and 600 W) reduced it by 59 to 67%. The synergistic effect of a combination treatment at 7 and 9 kGy of irradiation at any of the chosen microwave power levels and sequence of treatment was able to reduce >95% in artificially spiked peanuts. Knowing the limitation of ELISA, an Ames test was employed to determine the mutagenicity of AFB1 in combination-treated (7 kGy and 600 W) artificially spiked peanut samples, resulting in an 80-85% reduction of its mutagenicity. Quality parameters of peanuts in terms of moisture content, water activity, hardness, colour, peroxide value and free fatty acid were evaluated and observed to be retained after combination treatments. Post-treatment sensory analysis in respect of appearance, colour, texture, taste, aftertaste and overall acceptability gave satisfactory scores. The microbiological safety of treated peanuts (exclusive and combination of 7 kGy and 360-600 W) was assessed in terms of total bacterial count, aerobic spore count, and yeast and mould count. The microbiological load was completely eliminated after exclusive gamma irradiation or the combination treatments. Combination treatment (7 kGy and 600 W) demonstrated 71 to 87% reduction in AFB1 from naturally contaminated peanuts and is recommended for further commercial application.

Potential of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens for biocontrol of bacterial canker of tomato incited by Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis

A total of 150 rhizobacteria and endorhizobacteria previously isolated from three different horticultural crops; strawberry, apple and apricot were screened for antagonistic activitiy against Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis. Among them strain S1, exhibiting significantly higher antagonistic and plant growth promoting ability was characterized as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens based on morphological, biochemical and partial gene sequence analysis of 16S rRNA. B. amyloliquefaciens strain S1 showed maximum growth inhibition of C. michiganensis (12 mm). Moreover, B. amyloliquefaciens strain S1 exhibit significant phosphorus solubilization (94.16 %SEl) and indole acetic acid (27 μg ml^-1) production under in vitro conditions. Antagonistic activity of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain S1 was compared with other four strains KU₂S1, R₂S₍₁₎, RG₁₍₃₎ and AG₁₍₇₎ against bacterial canker of tomato under net house conditions. Minimum bacterial canker disease incidence (30.0%) was recorded in B. amyloliquefaciens S1 followed by RG₁₍₃₎ after 30 days of inoculation. The bio-control efficacy was higher in B. amyloliquefaciens S1 treated plants, followed by RG₁₍₃₎.

Magnetically retrievable Ce-doped Fe3O4 nanoparticles as scaffolds for the removal of azo dyes

Considering the significant impact of magnetically retrievable nanostructures, herein, Fe₃O₄ and Ce-doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were employed as scaffolds for the removal of the Reactive Black 5 (RB5) azo dye. We synthesized the Ce-doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles via hydrothermal treatment at 120 °C for 10 h with varying cerium concentrations (1.5–3.5%) and characterized them using basic techniques such as FTIR and UV-visible spectroscopy, and XRD analysis. The retention of their magnetic behaviors even after cerium amalgamation was demonstrated and confirmed by the VSM results. FESEM and EDX were used for the morphological and purity analysis of the synthesized nanoabsorbents. XPS was carried out to determine the electronic configuration of the synthesized samples. The porosity of the magnetic nanoparticles was investigated by BET analysis, and subsequently, the most porous sample was further used in the adsorption studies for the cleanup of RB5 from wastewater. The dye adsorption studies were probed via UV-visible spectroscopy, which indicated the removal efficiency of 87%. The prepared Ce-doped Fe₃O₄ nanoabsorbent showed the high adsorption capacity of 84.58 mg g⁻¹ towards RB5 in 40 min. This is attributed to the electrostatic interactions between the nanoabsorbent and the dye molecules and high porosity of the prepared sample. The adsorption mechanism was also analyzed. The kinetic data well-fitted the pseudo-first-order model, and the adsorption capability at different equilibrium concentrations of the dye solution indicated monolayer formation and chemisorption phenomena. Furthermore, the magnetic absorbent could be rapidly separated from the wastewater using an external magnetic field after adsorption.

Considering the significant impact of magnetically retrievable nanostructures, herein, Ce-doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were employed as scaffolds for the removal of the Reactive Black 5 (RB5), an azo dye.

Physiological and biochemical responses of Makhana (Euryale ferox) to gamma irradiation

The impact of gamma irradiation on growth and physiology of Euryale ferox was described in the present investigation. E. ferox is an underutilized aquatic food crop that grows in shallow-water bodies in lower Assam regions and north Bihar of India. The seeds of E. ferox were irradiated with different doses of gamma irradiation ranging from 0 to 500 Gy. It was observed that the germination and survival percentage was inhibited by increasing the irradiation dose. However, plants developed from seed exposed to an irradiation dose beyond 100 Gy did not survive more than 1 month. Further growth parameters (leaf size and number, number of thorns, root number and length, and number of flower and seeds) were also compared with respect to non-irradiated plants. Physiological parameters, viz. chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and intracellular CO₂ content was higher in the irradiation population of E. ferox. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities were observed low in irradiated population of E. ferox. The proline and glycine betaine content was enhanced with increasing the irradiation dose. The present investigation explores the potential use of gamma rays in genetic improvement of E. ferox and improves understanding of the physiological responses inflicted by gamma irradiation.

Noninvasive tissue adhesive for cardiac implantable electronic device pocket closure: the TAPE pilot study

PURPOSE

Device infection is a serious complication of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED). Ensuring complete pocket closure can be time consuming, but remains vital to prevent infection. The Zip® Surgical Skin Closure (ZIP) is a noninvasive adhesive device applied to the skin as an alternative to subcuticular sutures for skin closure. We hypothesized that using this device would decrease pocket closure times without increasing the risk of pocket infections. This is a single center, retrospective cohort study to compare pocket closure times and infection rates between ZIP and standard suture for CIED pocket closure.

METHODS

Two separate groups of consecutive new intravenous implants, upgrades, and pulse generator replacements from October 2015 to April 2017 were included. A total of 175 patients were included, using either ZIP (n = 80) or suture (n = 95). Total procedure time (local anesthetic to dressing application) and pocket closure time (fascial suture to dressing application) were compared. Pocket infections were defined as infections leading to CIED extraction or wound dehiscence requiring repeat procedure. Statistical analysis was performed using chi square test and Student's t test.

RESULTS

Pocket closure time and procedure time were significantly shorter for the ZIP group (14.9 ± 6.8 vs 20.1 ± 11.09 min, p = 0.0003) and (65.02 ± 30.4 vs 83.83 ± 40.3 min, p = 0.0008), respectively. No pocket infections occurred in the Zip group, while the suture group had 2:1 wound dehiscence and 1 pocket infection.

CONCLUSION

The ZIP device resulted in significantly shorter pocket closure and procedure times without increasing device pocket infections.