Emotional Consequences of Burn Nursing: A Phenomenological Approach.

Nurses face various emotional challenges while providing care to burn patients. An existential-phenomenological approach was utilized to gain an insight into the emotional experiences of burn nurses. The semi-structured interviews were audio recorded with twenty-two burn nurses and analyzed with Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Three themes were revealed: Emotionally overwhelming environment; Psychological trauma; Impact on quality patient care. Implementing support strategies is crucial to retain the nurses in emotionally overwhelming burn unit and to provide quality care to burn patients.

Age-related decline in the expression of BRG1, ATM and ATR are partially reversed by dietary restriction in the livers of female mice.

BRG1 (Brahma-related gene 1) is a member of the SWI/SNF (switch/sucrose nonfermentable) chromatin remodeling complex which utilizes the energy from ATP hydrolysis for its activity. In addition to its role of regulating the expression of a vast array of genes, BRG1 mediates DNA repair upon genotoxic stress and regulates senescence. During organismal ageing, there is accumulation of unrepaired/unrepairable DNA damage due to progressive breakdown of the DNA repair machinery. The present study investigates the expression level of BRG1 as a function of age in the liver of 5- and 21-month-old female mice. It also explores the impact of dietary restriction on BRG1 expression in the old (21-month) mice. Salient findings of the study are: Real-time PCR and Western blot analyses reveal that BRG1 levels are higher in 5-month-old mice but decrease significantly with age. Dietary restriction increases BRG1 expression in the 21-month-old mice, nearly restoring it to the level observed in the younger group. Similar expression patterns are observed for DNA damage response genes ATM (Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated) and ATR (Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-related) with the advancement in age and which appears to be modulated by dietary restriction. BRG1 transcriptionally regulates ATM as a function of age and dietary restriction. These results suggest that BRG1, ATM and ATR are downregulated as mice age, and dietary restriction can restore their expression. This implies that dietary restriction may play a crucial role in regulating BRG1 and related gene expression, potentially maintaining liver repair and metabolic processes as mice age.

Essential oil-nanoemulsion based edible coating: Innovative sustainable preservation method for fresh/fresh-cut fruits and vegetables.

Utilizing plant-based sources for the preservation of fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables offers a natural and chemical-free method. However, the inherent instability of plant bioactive compounds underscores the necessity for encapsulation techniques. Essential oil-based nanoemulsions (EO-NEs) stand out among food additives due to their distinctive antibacterial and antioxidant properties. This review delves into recent advancements in the application of EO-NEs as edible coatings for fresh and fresh-cut produce. It examines the efficacy of EO-NEs in enhancing the preservation of fruits and vegetables by harnessing their bioactive compounds for antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities. Additionally, the review accentuates the efficacy of EO-NEs in inhibiting biofilm formation on fruits and vegetables. It reveals that coatings derived from plant-source nanoemulsions exhibit exceptional mechanical, optical, and microstructural qualities, as well as superior water barrier properties. In contrast to conventional emulsions, nanocoatings facilitate the gradual and controlled release of antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds during food storage. This feature enhances bioactivity, extends shelf life, and enhances the nutritional profile of products. By preserving and protecting shelf stability, EO-NEs contribute to the maintenance of vegetable freshness. Nonetheless, ensuring their commercial viability necessitates additional research into the toxicity of EO-based nanoemulsions.

Computational Insight into the Physical Properties of Bulk MP (M = Li, Na, K) for Energy Applications.

In this study, we applied density functional theory to compute the electronic, optical, and thermal properties of MP (M = Li, Na, K). We find that the materials under consideration are stable, owing to the lack of negative frequencies in the phonon spectra. LiP exhibits an indirect band gap of 1.43 eV. NaP and KP have direct band gaps of 1.67 and 1.76 eV, respectively. The family of these composites shows strong absorption, observed by their very sharp absorption edges and confirmed by their direct transition from the valence to conduction band. They exhibit strong absorption below 4.0 eV in the optical spectra, which could serve in a solar cell device. The thermal calculations show high zT values of 0.74, 0.78, and 0.64 at 300 K for LiP, NaP, and KP, respectively. Thus, our results could be promising for electronic and thermal devices.

Sustainable production of cellulosic biopolymers for enhanced smart food packaging: An up-to-date review.

Biodegradable and sustainable food packaging (FP) materials have gained immense global importance to reduce plastic pollution and environmental impact. Therefore, this review focused on the recent advances in biopolymers based on cellulose derivatives for FP applications. Cellulose, an abundant and renewable biopolymer, and its various derivatives, namely cellulose acetate, cellulose sulphate, nanocellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and methylcellulose, are explored as promising substitutes for conventional plastic in FP. These reviews focused on the production, modification processes, and properties of cellulose derivatives and highlighted their potential for their application in FP. Finally, we reviewed the effects of incorporating cellulose derivatives into film in various aspects of packaging properties, including barrier, mechanical, thermal, preservation aspects, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Overall, the findings suggest that cellulose derivatives have the potential to replace conventional plastics in food packaging applications. This can contribute to reducing plastic pollution and lessening the environmental impact of food packaging materials. The review likely provides insights into the current state of research and development in this field and underscores the significance of sustainable food packaging solutions.

Comprehensive first principles to investigate optoelectronic and transport phenomenon of lead-free double perovskites Ba2AsBO6 (B[bond, double bond]Nb, Ta) compounds.

In the current work we studied the structural, elastics, electrical, optical, thermoelectric, as well as spectroscopic limited maximum efficiency (SLME) of oxide based Ba2AsBO6 (B[bond, double bond]Nb, Ta) materials. All the calculations were performed using first-principles calculation by employing the WIEN2k code. We checked the stability in diverse forms such as optimization, phonon dispersion, mechanical, formation energy, cohesive energy, and thermal stability is computed. The semiconducting nature of these Ba2AsBO6 (B[bond, double bond]Nb, Ta) systems is revealed by calculating the direct band gap values are 1.97 eV and 1.49 eV respectively. Additionally, we determined the optical properties which analyze the utmost absorption and transition of carriers versus photon energy (eV). Moreover, Ba2AsNbO6 has an estimated SLME of 32 %, making it an encouraging alternative for single-junction solar cells. Lastly, we studied the transport properties against temperature, the chemical potential for p-type and n-type charge carriers at various temperatures. At 300 K, the zT values are found to be 0.757 and 0.751 for Ba2AsBO6 (B[bond, double bond]Nb, Ta) compounds respectively. Both materials were examined as having strong absorption patterns and an excellent figure of merit (ZT), indicating that materials are appropriate for daily life applications.

Rapid and sensitive approaches for detecting food fraud: A review on prospects and challenges.

Precise and reliable analytical techniques are required to guarantee food quality in light of the expanding concerns regarding food safety and quality. Because traditional procedures are expensive and time-consuming, quick food control techniques are required to ensure product quality. Various analytical techniques are used to identify and detect food fraud, including spectroscopy, chromatography, DNA barcoding, and inotrope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Due to its quick findings, simplicity of use, high throughput, affordability, and non-destructive evaluations of numerous food matrices, NI spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging are financially preferred in the food business. The applicability of this technology has increased with the development of chemometric techniques and near-infrared spectroscopy-based instruments. The current research also discusses the use of several multivariate analytical techniques in identifying food fraud, such as principal component analysis, partial least squares, cluster analysis, multivariate curve resolutions, and artificial intelligence.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence towards the sustainable future of agri-food industry.

Artificial intelligence has the potential to alter the agricultural and food processing industries, with significant ramifications for sustainability and global food security. The integration of artificial intelligence in agriculture has witnessed a significant uptick in recent years. Therefore, comprehensive understanding of these techniques is needed to broaden its application in agri-food supply chain. In this review, we explored cutting-edge artificial intelligence methodologies with a focus on machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning. The application of artificial intelligence in agri-food industry and their quality assurance throughout the production process is thoroughly discussed with an emphasis on the current scientific knowledge and future perspective. Artificial intelligence has played a significant role in transforming agri-food systems by enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. Many food industries are implementing the artificial intelligence in modelling, prediction, control tool, sensory evaluation, quality control, and tackling complicated challenges in food processing. Similarly, artificial intelligence applied in agriculture to improve the entire farming process, such as crop yield optimization, use of herbicides, weeds identification, and harvesting of fruits. In summary, the integration of artificial intelligence in agri-food systems offers the potential to address key challenges in agriculture, enhance sustainability, and contribute to global food security.

Ab initio investigations of the structure-stability, mechanical, electronic, thermodynamic and optical properties of Ti2FeAs Heusler alloy.

In this study, we employed density functional theory coupled with the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method (FP-LAPW) to investigate the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of the Ti2FeAs alloy adopting the Hg2CuTi-type structure. Our findings demonstrate that all the examined structures exhibit ferromagnetic (FM) behaviour. By conducting electronic band structure calculations, we observed an energy gap of 0.739 eV for Ti2FeAs in the spin-down state and metallic intersections at the Fermi level in the spin-up state. These results suggest the half-metallic (HM) nature of Ti2FeAs, where the Ti-d and Fe-d electronic states play a significant role near the Fermi level. Additionally, the obtained total magnetic moments are consistent with the Slater-Pauling rule (Mtot = Ztot - 18), indicating 100% spin polarization for these compounds. To explore their optical properties, we employed the dielectric function to compute various optical parameters, including absorption spectra, energy-loss spectra, refractive index, reflectivity, and conductivity. Furthermore, various thermodynamic parameters were evaluated at different temperatures and pressures. The results obtained from the elastic parameters reveal the anisotropic and ductile nature of the Ti2FeAs compound. These findings suggest that Ti2FeAs has potential applications in temperature-tolerant devices and optoelectronic devices as a UV absorber.

Recent advances in production of sustainable and biodegradable polymers from agro-food waste: Applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicines.

Agro-food waste is a rich source of biopolymers such as cellulose, chitin, and starch, which have been shown to possess excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity. These properties make biopolymers from agro-food waste for its application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Thus, this review highlighted the properties, processing methods, and applications of biopolymers derived from various agro-food waste sources. We also highlight recent advances in the development of biopolymers from agro-food waste and their potential for future tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications, including drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, biodegradable packaging, excipients, dental applications, diagnostic tools, and medical implants. Additionally, it explores the challenges, prospects, and future directions in this rapidly evolving field. The review showed the evolution of production techniques for transforming agro-food waste into valuable biopolymers. However, these biopolymers serving as the cornerstone in scaffold development and drug delivery systems. With their role in wound dressings, cell encapsulation, and regenerative therapies, biopolymers promote efficient wound healing, cell transplantation, and diverse regenerative treatments. Biopolymers support various regenerative treatments, including cartilage and bone regeneration, nerve repair, and organ transplantation. Overall, this review concluded the potential of biopolymers from agro-food waste as a sustainable and cost-effective solution in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, offering innovative solutions for medical treatments and promoting the advancement of these fields.

Tonic NMDAR Currents of NR2A-Containing NMDARs Represent Altered Ambient Glutamate Concentration in the Supraoptic Nucleus.

NMDA receptors (NMDARs) modulate glutamatergic excitatory tone in the brain via two complementary modalities: a phasic excitatory postsynaptic current and a tonic extrasynaptic modality. Here, we demonstrated that the tonic NMDAR-current (I NMDA) mediated by NR2A-containing NMDARs is an efficient biosensor detecting the altered ambient glutamate level in the supraoptic nucleus (SON). I NMDA of magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs) measured by nonselective NMDARs antagonist, AP5, at holding potential (V holding) -70 mV in low concentration of ECF Mg2+ ([Mg2+]o) was transiently but significantly increased 1-week post induction of a DOCA salt hypertensive model rat which was compatible with that induced by a NR2A-selective antagonist, PEAQX (I PEAQX) in both DOCA-H2O and DOCA-salt groups. In agreement, NR2B antagonist, ifenprodil, or NR2C/D antagonist, PPDA, did not affect the holding current (I holding) at V holding -70 mV. Increased ambient glutamate by exogenous glutamate (10 mM) or excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) antagonist (TBOA, 50 mM) abolished the I PEAQX difference between two groups, suggesting that attenuated EAATs activity increased ambient glutamate concentration, leading to the larger I PEAQX in DOCA-salt rats. In contrast, only ifenprodil but not PEAQX and PPDA uncovered I NMDA at V holding +40 mV under 1.2 mM [Mg2+]o condition. I ifenprodil was not different in DOCA-H2O and DOCA-salt groups. Finally, NR2A, NR2B, and NR2D protein expression were not different in the SON of the two groups. Taken together, NR2A-containing NMDARs efficiently detected the increased ambient glutamate concentration in the SON of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats due to attenuated EAATs activity.

Exploring the efficacy of a novel prebiotic-like growth promoter on broiler chicken production performance.

This study attempts to isolate a candidate growth promoter from the ovine paunch waste and scrutinize its effects on the production performance of broiler chickens as compared to mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS), a prebiotic, and lincomycin, an antibiotic growth promoter (AB). The paunch waste collected from slaughtered sheep was processed to remove particulate matter. The clarified liquid was then added to an excess of ethanol (1:9 ratio), and the resultant precipitate {(novel growth-promoting paunch extract (NGPE)} was collected, dried, and stored. In vitro increase in cell density for probiotic bacteria viz. Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecalis (Log10 CFU/ml) were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in NGPE supplemented media (2.78 ± 0.11 and 2.77 ± 0.10) as compared to that on MOS (1.28 ± 0.05 and 2.49 ± 0.09) and glucose (1.09 ± 0.04 and 1.12 ± 0.04) supplemented media. In the in-vivo trial of six weeks duration with broiler chickens (Cobb-400), NGPE supplementation resulted in significantly higher growth in weeks IV (P < 0.05) and VI (P < 0.01) of age in comparison to MOS and AGP supplemented groups, a lower (P < 0.01) cumulative feed conversion ratio in comparison to MOS supplemented groups, and a higher (P < 0.01) cumulative protein efficiency ratio compared to MOS and AGP supplementation. NGPE supplementation also lowered lipid peroxidation (P < 0.01), increased reduced glutathione activity (P < 0.01) in chicken erythrocytes, and boosted the lactic acid bacteria count in the cecal contents (P < 0.01). This is the first report of the isolation of a paunch waste extract that increased the in vitro growth of probiotic bacteria and improved the production performance of broiler chickens.

Exploring the mechanical, vibrational optoelectronic, and thermoelectric properties of novel half-Heusler FeTaX (X = P, As): a first-principles study.

In this study, the density functional theory (DFT) was employed to study the structural, electronic, optical, and thermoelectric characteristics of half-Heusler (HH) FeTaX (X = P or As). Optimization of the structures was achieved using Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) parametrized generalized gradient approximation (GGA). These HH FeTaX (X = P, As) showed indirect bandgaps of 0.882 eV and 0.748 eV, respectively. The predicted density of states (DOS) spectra suggest that Fe-d and Ta-d states contribute predominantly to both valence and conduction bands, whereas P/As-p states contribute less. Optical properties were investigated to assess their potential in optoelectronic applications. The estimated values of various optical parameters and low loss suggest that the studied HH FeTaX (X = P, As) are suitable for optoelectronic device applications. The thermoelectric responses of the studied HH FeTaX (X = P, As) were computed, and their highest power factors at high temperature reflects their usage in thermoelectric devices.

Outcome of Nasal Layer Reinforcement With Autologous Dermis in Cleft Palate Repair on Postoperative Fistula Formation.

Palatal fistulae are challenging complications following cleft palate repair. The addition of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) to cleft palate repair has been shown to reduce fistula formation in previous studies. The use of autologous dermal graft has all the structural advantages of ADM, has less rejection and immunogenic potential, and is cost effective.A prospective study.Patients with Group II and III cleft palate (Nagpur Classification) without prior intervention for palatal repair in the Department of Plastic Surgery at PGIMER from January 2020 till June 2021.The addition of autologous dermal graft for palatoplasty.Outcome of the study was fistula development or exposure of dermal graft.Autologous dermal graft was harvested of average dimension of 8.73 cm2 (range 5.25-18 cm2) from groin region. Sixteen patients were included in the study. Among them, 2 patients (12.5%) developed postoperative fistula (Type III &V Pittsburgh Classification).Our study showed that the rates of postoperative fistula formation are comparable with prior literature using artificial dermal matrices.