Solubility and dissolution kinetics of sulfur and sulfides in electrolyte solvents for lithium-sulfur and sodium-sulfur batteries.

In this study, we monitor the dissolution of sulfur and sulfides in electrolyte solvents for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) and sodium-sulfur (Na-S) batteries. The first aim of this research is to assemble a comprehensive set of data on solubilities and dissolution kinetics that may be used in the simulation of battery cycling. The investigation also offers important insights to address key bottlenecks in the development and commercialization of metal-sulfur batteries, including the incomplete dissolution of sulfur in discharge and insoluble low-order sulfides in charge, the probability of shuttling of soluble polysulfides, and the pausing of the redox reactions in precipitated low order sulfides depending on their degree of solid state. The tested materials include sulfur, lithium sulfides Li2Sx, x = 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8, and sodium sulfides Na2Sx, x = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8, dissolved in two alternative electrolyte solvents: DOL:DME 1:1 v/v and TEGDME. The determined properties of the solute dissolution in the solvent include saturation concentration, mass transfer coefficient, and diffusion coefficient of the solvent in the solid solute. In general, the DOL:DME system offers high solubility in Li-S batteries and TEGDME offers the highest solubility in Na-S batteries. Low solubility sulfides are Li2S2 and Li2S for the Li-S batteries, and Na2S3, Na2S2, and Na2S for the Na-S batteries. However, it is noted that Na2S3 dissolves fast in TEGDME and also TEGDME diffuses fast into Na2S3, offering the possibility of a swollen Na2S3 structure in which Na+ ions might diffuse and continue the redox reactions in a semisolid state.

Pulmonary functions in Egyptian children with transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia.

BACKGROUND: In ß-thalassemia, there are varying degrees of ineffective haematopoiesis, intermittent haemolysis and iron overload. Excess iron is deposited in organs such as the heart, the liver, the endocrine glands and the lungs. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the pulmonary functions in asymptomatic beta thalassemic children on regular transfusion therapy and their relation to iron overload. METHODS: The study included 50 transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemic children and 50 apparently healthy children as control. All children had undergone pulmonary function tests (spirometry, lung volumes and diffusion capacities). In addition, test to determine the mean serum ferritin of the last 2 years and pre-transfusion haemoglobin and chest radiograph and echocardiography were performed for the thalassemic children only. RESULTS: A total of 70% of the thalassemic children had diffusion impairment, whereas 34% of them had associated restrictive abnormality. Thalassemic children with serum ferritin >2500 ng mL-1 had significantly lower values of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEFR), total lung capacity (TLC) and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) (P < 0·05). Only diffusion impairment had a significant positive correlation with serum ferritin level. Restrictive impairment had significant positive correlations with age, duration of blood transfusion and serum ferritin level and a significant negative correlation with duration of chelation (P < 0·05). Having a serum ferritin >2500 ng mL-1 was the only predicting factor for diffusion impairment and the strongest predicting factor for restrictive dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Despite being asymptomatic, the majority of thalassemic children in this study suffered from diffusion impairment either alone or in combination with restrictive dysfunction. These pulmonary dysfunctions correlated significantly with body iron stores measured by serum ferritin.

Pancreatic allograft thrombosis: Suggestion for a CT grading system and management algorithm.

Pancreatic allograft thrombosis (PAT) remains the leading cause of nonimmunologic graft failure. Here, we propose a new computed tomography (CT) grading system of PAT to identify risk factors for allograft loss and outline a management algorithm by retrospective review of consecutive pancreatic transplantations between 2009 and 2014. Triple-phase CT scans were graded independently by 2 radiologists as grade 0, no thrombosis; grade 1, peripheral thrombosis; grade 2, intermediate non-occlusive thrombosis; and grade 3, central occlusive thrombosis. Twenty-four (23.3%) of 103 recipients were diagnosed with PAT (including grade 1). Three (2.9%) grafts were lost due to portal vein thrombosis. On multivariate analysis, pancreas after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation/solitary pancreatic transplantation, acute rejection, and CT findings of peripancreatic edema and/or inflammatory change were significant risk factors for PAT. Retrospective review of CT scans revealed more grade 1 and 2 thromboses than were initially reported. There was no significant difference in graft or patient survival, postoperative stay, or morbidity of recipients with grade 1 or 2 thrombosis who were or were not anticoagulated. Our data suggest that therapeutic anticoagulation is not necessary for grade 1 and 2 arterial and grade 1 venous thrombosis. The proposed grading system can assist clinicians in decision-making and provide standardized reporting for future studies.

Significance of R1 resection margin in colon cancer resections in the modern era.

AIM: Circumferential resection margin involvement (R1) in rectal cancer is a predictive factor for poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to confirm the prognostic significance of R1 in colon cancer resection and to establish whether the introduction of laparoscopic colorectal surgery influenced this. METHOD: Prospectively collected data on a patient pathway data manager for sequential patients with colon cancer treated at our specialist unit from January 2005 to December 2010 were analysed. There were 1110 colonic resections (elective 865; emergency 245). A circumferential resection margin involvement of < 1 mm was considered positive. RESULTS: The total R1 rate was 13.3% (elective 10.4%; emergency 23.6%; P < 0.001). Other statistically significant risk factors for an R1 resection included tumour perforation (P < 0.001), poorly differentiated carcinoma (P < 0.001), T4 tumour (P < 0.001), vascular invasion (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001), distant metastasis (P < 0.001) and palliative resection (P < 0.001). Over half of the elective resections were undertaken laparoscopically (486/865; 56.2%). When compared with elective open resection (379/865; 43.8%), the R1 rate was similar (P = 0.491) with similar disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The overall relapse rate was 18.9% in R0 and 55.5% in R1 resections (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed significant improvements in DFS and OS in R0 over R1 patients. CONCLUSION: The R1 margin in colon cancer resection is an important marker for advanced disease and a prognostic factor for DFS and OS. The introduction of laparoscopic surgery has not influenced the outcome in our unit despite a complex case mix.

Extra-anatomic stent (EAS) as a salvage procedure for transplant ureteric stricture.

Ureteric stricture is the most common urological complication following renal transplantation. Management often involves endo-urological interventions and open surgery. The definitive treatment is surgical reconstruction to restore continuity. Where this is not possible or contra-indicated and a stent cannot be placed in the ureter, an extra-anatomic stent (EAS) could be used to bypass a complete ureteric obstruction. Using an existing nephrostomy tract, a percutaneous stent is placed in the kidney and is tunneled under the skin into the bladder establishing extra-anatomical urinary drainage. We report the use of a novel EAS system in a patient with transplant ureteric stricture when antegrade stent placement or surgical reconstruction was not possible.

Impact of temperature on Na2 Sr(PO4)F:Eu3+ phosphor.

In this article, we report the synthesis of Na2 Sr1-x (PO4)F:Eux phosphor via a combustion method. The influence of different annealing temperatures on the photoluminescence properties was investigated. The phosphor was excited at both 254 and 393 nm. Na2 Sr1-x (PO4)F:Eux (3+) phosphors emit strong orange and red color at 593 and 612 nm, respectively, under both excitation wavelengths. Na2 Sr1-x (PO4)F:Eux (3+) phosphors annealed at 1050°C showed stronger emission intensity compared with 600, 900 and 1200°C. Moreover, Na2 Sr1-x (PO4)F:Eux (3+) phosphor was found to be more intense when compared with commercial Y2 O3:Eu(3+) phosphor.

Estimation of inflammatory cytokines in maternal serum for assessing the outcome of threatened miscarriage.

Objectives: This study investigates the use of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in predicting the outcome of pregnancy complicated by threatened miscarriage. Materials and Methods: Of the 140 eligible pregnant women recruited for the study, maternal serum levels of selected inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IFNγ, IL-4, and IL-13) for 70 women with threatened miscarriage were analysed for this study. Serum concentrations were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Inevitable miscarriage or ongoing pregnancy was used as the outcome, whereas serum levels of selected inflammatory cytokines, women's sociodemographic characteristics, gynaecologic history, and clinical history were used as the explanatory variables. The Student's t test was used to compare the cytokine profiles between women with inevitable miscarriages and women with normal ongoing pregnancy after 13 weeks of gestation. Poisson regression models were performed to investigate the factors associated with inevitable miscarriage. Results: The result revealed significantly higher pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-2 (P < 0.001), and IFNγ (P < 0.001) in women with a pregnancy that resulted in an inevitable miscarriage than in those that resulted in an ongoing pregnancy. The incidence rate of inevitable miscarriage increased by 16% (IRR = 1.16, 95% CI: 0.58-2.32) for a unit increase in IL-2 and by 25% (IRR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.09-1.43) when adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, gynaecology, and clinical history. Conclusion: The IL-2 was the best biomarker for predicting the outcome of threatened pregnancy with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 70% at 1.30 pg/mL cut-off point.

Mathematical analysis of mixed convective stagnation point flow over extendable porous riga plate with aggregation and joule heating effects.

It is still not quite apparent how suspended nanoparticles improve heat transmission. Multiple investigations have demonstrated that the aggregation of nanoparticles is a critical step in improving the thermal conductivity of nanofluids. However, the thermal conductivity of the nanofluid would be greatly affected by the fractal dimension of the nanoparticle aggregation. The purpose of this research is to learn how nanoparticle aggregation, joule heating, and a heat source affect the behavior of an ethylene glycol-based nanofluid as it flows over a permeable, heated, stretched vertical Riga plate and through a porous medium. Numerical solutions to the present mathematical model were obtained using Mathematica's Runge-Kutta (RK-IV) with shooting technique. In the stagnation point flow next to a permeable, heated, extending Riga plate, heat transfer processes and interrupted flow phenomena are defined and illustrated by diagrams in the proposed mixed convection, joule heating, and suction variables along a boundary surface. Data visualizations showed how different variables affected temperature and velocity distributions, skin friction coefficient, and the local Nusselt number. The rates of heat transmission and skin friction increased when the values of the suction parameters were raised. The temperature profile and the Nusselt number both rose because of the heat source setting. The increase in skin friction caused by changing the nanoparticle volume fraction from φ=0.0 to φ=0.01 for the without aggregation model was about 7.2% for the case of opposing flow area (λ=-1.0) and 7.5% for the case of aiding flow region (λ=1.0). With the aggregation model, the heat transfer rate decreases by approximately 3.6% for cases with opposing flow regions (λ=-1.0) and 3.7% for cases with assisting flow regions (λ=1.0), depending on the nanoparticle volume fraction and ranging from φ=0.0 to φ=0.01, respectively. Recent findings were validated by comparing them to previously published findings for the same setting. There was substantial agreement between the two sets finding.

Impacts of fertilization management strategies on improved sorghums varieties in smallholder farming systems in Mali: Productivity and profitability differences.

Sorghum is an important cereal crop cultivated by smallholder farmers of Mali, contributing significantly to their food demand and security. The study evaluated different fertilization strategies that combined organic and inorganic fertilizer applications with three sorghum varieties. The experiments were conducted over three cropping seasons (2017-2019) in three sites (Bamako, Bougouni, and Koutiala respectively) within the Sudanian region of Mali. Our results showed a significant effect of season, variety, and fertilization strategies on grain and stalk yields. Grain yield increased by 8-40% in Koutiala, 11-53% in Bougouni, and 44-110% in Bamako while the average stalk yield was above 5000 kg ha-1 with fertilized treatment compared to unfertilized treatment in the three sites. Fadda performed the best variety, mean grain yield was 23% and 42% higher than that of Soumba and Tieble, respectively. Similarly, there was a progressive increase in grain yield with an increasing level of poultry manure (PM) from 0 to 150 g/hill and cattle manure (CM) from 0 to 100 g/hill. However, the application of 100 g/hill of CM and PM plus 3 g/hill of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) increased yield by 8% and 12% respectively compared to only CM or PM treatments. The results further revealed higher yield gain by 51% (Bamako), 57% (Koutiala), and 42% (Bougouni) for T10-[PM (100 g/hill) + Micro-D_DAP (3 g/hill)] equivalent to 73 kgNha-1 than others (T2-T9), but not proportionate to the highest value-cost ratio (VCR). Radar charts used to visualize sustainable intensification (SI) performance in the three domains (productivity, profitability, and environment) showed that the environmental variable has a direct influence on productivity, meanwhile profitability across the strategies ranged from low to moderate value across sites and different fertilizer strategies. Our study, therefore, recommends the use of multiple-choice fertilizer strategies includingT2-CM (50 g/hill)+PM(50 g/hill), T5-DAP-Micro-D (3 g/hill), T6-DAP41:46:00 and T9-PM(50 g/hill) alongside with improved sorghum varieties tested, for higher productivity and profitability across the region.

Analysis of Monkeypox viral infection with human to animal transmission via a fractional and Fractal-fractional operators with power law kernel.

Monkeypox (MPX) is a global public health concern. This infectious disease affects people all over the world, not just those in West and Central Africa. Various approaches have been used to study epidemiology, the source of infection, and patterns of transmission of MPX. In this article, we analyze the dynamics of MPX using a fractional mathematical model with a power law kernel. The human-to-animal transmission is considered in the model formulation. The fractional model is further reformulated via a generalized fractal-fractional differential operator in the Caputo sense. The basic mathematical including the existence and uniqueness of both fractional and fractal-fractional problems are provided using fixed points theorems. A numerical scheme for the proposed model is obtained using an efficient iterative method. Moreover, detailed simulation results are shown for different fractional orders in the first stage. Finally, a number of graphical results of fractal-fractional MPX transmission models are presented showing the combined effect of fractal and fractional orders on model dynamics. The resulting simulations conclude that the new fractal-fractional operator added more biological insight into the dynamics of illness.

Forced convection of non-darcy flow of ethylene glycol conveying copper(II) oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles subject to lorentz force on wedges: Non-newtonian casson model.

The topic of two-dimensional steady laminar MHD boundary layer flow across a wedge with non-Newtonian hybrid nanoliquid (CuO-TiO2/C2H6O2) with viscous dissipation and radiation is taken into consideration. The controlling partial differential equations have been converted to non-linear higher-order ordinary differential equations using the appropriate similarity transformations. It is demonstrated that a number of thermo-physical characteristics govern the transmuted model. The issue is then mathematically resolved. When the method's accuracy is compared to results that have already been published, an excellent agreement is found. While the thermal distribution increases with an increase in Eckert number, radiation and porosity parameters, the velocity distribution decreases as porosity increases.

A Comprehensive Review on the Effects of Humor in Patients With Depression.

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. Although there are known, effective treatments for depression, people in low- and middle-income areas experience multiple barriers which limit their ability to receive adequate treatment. Some known barriers to effective care include a lack of resources, lack of trained healthcare providers, and social stigma associated with mental disorders and this creates gaps in mental health care and the need for more treatment modalities and adjuvant therapies to address these gaps. This review article was conducted using the scale for the assessment of non-systematic review articles (SANRA). We searched three databases; EMBASE, PubMed (MEDLINE), and Google Scholar using specified search terms. We had a total of nine articles with sample sizes ranging from 37 to 1551, and the age of participants ranged from 23 to 93 years. Articles were diverse in race and geographical locations. The articles were derived from cross-sectional studies, randomized studies, and experimental studies, and they focused on the relationship between humor and depression, and the reduced risk of depression in the study population. The articles identified different aspects of the relationship between humor and depression. The willingness of patients with depression to recognize or participate in humor could be defective resulting in abnormal social interactions such as withdrawal. However, there was some significant influence of humor or its styles on patients with depression either mitigating depressive symptoms or having no impact at all.

The Correlation Between Autistic Childhood Disorders and the Development of Anxiety and Depression in Adults: A Systematic Review.

Children with autism spectrum disorder significantly suffer from other mental conditions, including anxiety and depression, compared to the general population. This continues to have a significant effect till adulthood. This study aimed at determining if there is a correlation between autism disorder in childhood and the development of anxiety and depression in adulthood and if behavioral therapy for children with this disorder reduces the likelihood of developing anxiety and depression as an adult.  Three major databases were searched: EMBASE, Google Scholar, and PubMed, using specific search terms. Studies were selected according to population, exposure, comparison, condition or outcome(s) of interest, study design, and context. Overall, there are five articles relevant to this systematic review synthesis; all were observational studies. Our study shows psychiatric disorders like anxiety and depression could be related to autism spectrum disorder and early behavioral intervention could be beneficial and reduce the need for anxiety and depression medication.

Entropy optimized MHD 3D nanomaterial of non-Newtonian fluid: A combined approach to good absorber of solar energy and intensification of heat transport.

BACKGROUND: The present work provides important insights regarding three dimensional unsteady magnetohydrodynamic flow and entropy generation of micropolar Casson Cross nanofluid subject to nonlinear thermal radiation and chemical reaction. The Buongiorno's nanofluid model featured with Brownian movement and thermophoresis is considered. Realistic aspects namely convective boundary condition, viscous dissipation and joule heating are introduced. The present problem is modeled by momentum, temperature, microrotation and nanoparticles concentration equations. METHOD: The non-dimensional highly nonlinear differential equations are solved numerically via shooting iteration technique together with 4th order Runge-Kutta integration scheme. RESULTS: The current study imparts a reasonable, pragmatic and realistic approach to a good absorber of solar energy. In addition, strong and visionary profiles of velocity, microrotation, temperature, nanoparticles concentration, entropy generation rate and Bejan number for concern nanofluids are presented. Besides, intensive physical interpretation of the involved thermophycal parameters has been well-addressed. CONCLUSIONS: The present investigation shows that strengthening of Weissenberg number uplifts the axial as well transverse fluid velocities while that of Hartmann number turns out to be a reverse trend. Furthermore, heat and mass transfer rates exhibit ascending and descending trends for intensified Brownian motion and thermophoresis respectively. Improved thermal boundary layer due to the upgrading temperature ratio parameter is another outcome of the current analysis.

Multifunctional titanium dioxide nanoparticles biofabricated via phytosynthetic route using extracts of Cola nitida: antimicrobial, dye degradation, antioxidant and anticoagulant activities.

First study of phytosynthesis of TiO2 NPs using the leaf (KL), pod (KP), seed (KS) and seed shell (KSS) extracts of kola nut tree (Cola nitida) is herein reported. The TiO2 NPs were characterized and evaluated for their antimicrobial, dye degradation, antioxidant and anticoagulant activities. The nearly spherical-shaped particles had λmax of 272.5-275.0 nm with size range of 25.00-191.41 nm. FTIR analysis displayed prominent peaks at 3446.79, 1639.49 and 1382.96 cm-1, indicating the involvement of phenolic compounds and proteins in the phytosynthesis of TiO2 NPs. Both SAED and XRD showed bioformation of crystalline anatase TiO2 NPs which inhibited multidrug-drug resistant bacteria and toxigenic fungi. The catalytic activities of the particles were profound, with degradation of malachite green by 83.48-86.28 % without exposure to UV-irradiation, scavenging of DPPH and H2O2by 51.19-60.08 %, and 78.45-99.23 % respectively. The particles as well prevented the coagulation of human blood. In addition to the antimicrobial and dye-degrading activities, we report for the first time the H2O2 scavenging and anticoagulant activities of TiO2 NPs, showing that the particles can be useful for catalytic and biomedical applications.

Influence of Imidacloprid and Horticultural Oil on Spider Abundance on Eastern Hemlock in the Southern Appalachians.

Hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), is an exotic pest of eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière (Pinales: Pinaceae), in the eastern United States. Two commonly used insecticides to manage adelgid are imidacloprid, a systemic neonicotinoid insecticide, and horticultural oil, a refined petroleum oil foliar spray. We have investigated the influence of imidacloprid and horticultural oil on spider abundance at different canopy strata in eastern hemlock. In total, 2,084 spiders representing 11 families were collected from the canopies of eastern hemlock. In beat-sheet and direct observation samples, the families Theridiidae, Araneidae, Salticidae, and Anyphaenidae were the most abundant. Significantly higher numbers of spiders were recorded on untreated control trees compared with trees treated with imidacloprid using soil drench and soil injection applications. Spider abundance in trees injected with imidacloprid and horticultural oil applications did not significantly differ from control trees. Spider abundance was significantly greater in the top and middle strata of the canopy than in the bottom stratum, where imidacloprid concentrations were the highest. Regression analysis showed that spider abundance was inversely associated with imidacloprid concentration. This research demonstrates that imidacloprid, when applied with selected methods, has the potential to result in reductions of spider densities at different strata. However, slight reductions in spider abundance may be an acceptable short-term ecological impact compared with the loss of an untreated hemlock and all the associated ecological benefits that it provides. Future studies should include investigations of long-term impact of imidacloprid on spiders associated with eastern hemlock.

'True Day Case' Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in a High-Volume Specialist Unit and Review of Factors Contributing to Unexpected Overnight Stay.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard treatment for gallstones. British Association of Day Case Surgery recommends at least 60% of LCs be performed as day cases. The aim of this study was to assess our rate of true day case LCs and review factors preventing same-day discharge. METHODS: We prospectively collected data of all elective LCs performed in a district general hospital over 32 months. RESULTS: 500 patients underwent LC during this period; 438 (88.2%) patients were planned day cases and 59 patients (11.8%) planned overnight stays. Of the planned day cases, 75.8% (n=332) were discharged on the same day and 106 (24.2%) had unexpected overnight stay (UOS). Most patients with BMI >35 and ASA3 planned day case patients were successfully discharged. Drain insertion, longer operations, and late recovery departure were the main reasons for UOS. There were more complications in this group compared to day cases. CONCLUSIONS: This unit has a high 'true day case' rate of 75.8%. High BMI and ASA3 should not be absolute contraindications to day case surgery. The majority of unexpected overnight stays are unavoidable but may be reduced by patient selection, stringent preoperative assessment, operation scheduling, and reduction in unnecessary drain insertion.