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Rising energy demand for building cooling exacerbates the environmental challenges associated with energy consumption. Incorporating phase change materials (PCMs) into building envelopes, particularly sun‑exposed roofs, can substantially reduce energy use. This study examines the thermal‑storage efficiency of metallic, spherical PCM modules embedded within a reinforced concrete roof, designed for hot‑climate conditions. The roof is divided into four distinct thermal zones: Zone‑1 (conventional concrete), Zone‑2 (empty spherical modules), and Zones 3–4 (modules filled with organic PCMs, organic mixture, 35 °C (OM35) and organic mixture, 37 °C (OM37)). Important thermal performance metrics, such as temperature distribution, heat flux, thermal load, time lag, decrement factor, key response index, and carbon emissions savings, are evaluated. Integrating spherical PCM modules led to significant improvements. These include an average reduction in indoor surface temperature of 10.2 °C, a decrease in cooling load of upto 69%, and a reduced decrement factor. In addition, OM35 showed a higher key response index and enhanced thermal performance than OM37. The findings demonstrate the practical viability of spherical PCM‑integrated roofs as a passive‑cooling strategy for buildings in hot climates.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were prepared from Neem plant extracts using the green synthesis method. The single-phase formation of the compound without any impurities was observed from the X-ray diffraction studies. The presence of spherical-shaped ZnO nanoparticles within the size range of 23–40 nm was observed from SEM micrographs and EDX, revealing 63.34% zinc and 36.66% oxygen. DLS studies showed the average particle size of the prepared sample to be around 27.81 nm at the d 50 range. The prepared material had an optical bandgap of around 3.24 eV. The photodegradation studies proved the better photocatalytic behavior of the prepared sample. Corrosion studies revealed that the prepared ZnO nanoparticles were less corrosive in comparison with zinc plates.

Chronic abdominal pain is the primary symptom of chronic pancreatitis, but unfortunately it is difficult to treat. Vagal nerve stimulation studies have provided evidence of anti-nociceptive effect in several chronic pain conditions. We investigated the pain-relieving effects of transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation in comparison to sham treatment in chronic pancreatitis patients. We conducted a randomised double-blinded, sham-controlled, crossover trial in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Patients were randomly assigned to receive a two-week period of cervical transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation using the gammaCore device followed by a two-week sham stimulation, or vice versa. We measured clinical and experimental endpoints before and after each treatment. The primary clinical endpoint was pain relief, documented in a pain diary using a visual analogue scale. Secondary clinical endpoints included Patients' Global Impression of Change score, quality of life and Brief Pain Inventory questionnaire. Secondary experimental endpoints included cardiac vagal tone and heart rate. No differences in pain scores were seen in response to two weeks transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation as compared to sham treatment (difference in average pain score (visual analogue scale): 0.17, 95%CI (-0.86;1.20), P = 0.7). Similarly, no differences were seen for secondary clinical endpoints, except from an increase in the appetite loss score (13.9, 95%CI (0.5:27.3), P = 0.04). However, improvements in maximum pain scores were seen for transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation and sham treatments as compared to their respective baselines: vagal nerve stimulation (-1.3±1.7, 95%CI (-2.21:-0.42), P = 0.007), sham (-1.3±1.9, 95%CI (-2.28:-0.25), P = 0.018). Finally, heart rate was decreased after two weeks transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation in comparison to sham treatment (-3.7 beats/min, 95%CI (-6.7:-0.6), P = 0.02). In this sham-controlled crossover study, we found no evidence that two weeks transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation induces pain relief in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The study is registered at NCT03357029; www.clinicaltrials.gov.

The identification of neurobiological markers that predict individual predisposition to pain are not only important for development of effective pain treatments, but would also yield a more complete understanding of how pain is implemented in the brain. In the current study using electroencephalography (EEG), we investigated the relationship between the peak frequency of alpha activity over sensorimotor cortex and pain intensity during capsaicin-heat pain (C-HP), a prolonged pain model known to induce spinal central sensitization in primates. We found that peak alpha frequency (PAF) recorded during a pain-free period preceding the induction of prolonged pain correlated with subsequent pain intensity reports: slower peak frequency at pain-free state was associated with higher pain during the prolonged pain condition. Moreover, the degree to which PAF decreased between pain-free and prolonged pain states was correlated with pain intensity. These two metrics were statistically uncorrelated and in combination were able to account for 50% of the variability in pain intensity. Altogether, our findings suggest that pain-free state PAF over relevant sensory systems could serve as a marker of individual predisposition to prolonged pain. Moreover, slowing of PAF in response to prolonged pain could represent an objective marker for subjective pain intensity. Our findings potentially lead the way for investigations in clinical populations in which alpha oscillations and the brain areas contributing to their generation are used in identifying and formulating treatment strategies for patients more likely to develop chronic pain. [Display omitted] •Relationship between EEG peak alpha frequency and prolonged pain is examined.•PAF during pain-free state correlated with prolonged pain intensity 40 min later.•PAF change from pain-free to prolonged pain correlated with reported pain intensity.•PAF and PAF changes could represent distinct mechanisms predicting pain sensitivity.

Research summary: Research on the link between financial and environmental performance implicitly assumes that firms will pursue profitable environmental actions. Yet, clearly, factors beyond profitability influence firms' environmental choices. We treat these choices as organizational change decisions and hypothesize that adoption of environmental initiatives is influenced by a combination of profit, level of disruption caused, and external influences. We test our hypotheses by examining firms' choices regarding implementation of energy-savings initiatives. We find that degree of disruption, number of prior local adopters, and strength of environmental norms affect the adoption decisions. In addition, the effect of disruption is amplified by the implementation costs, but is mitigated by the number of prior local adopters. Managerial summary: Often, in trying to improve firms' environmental performance, academics and stakeholders have focused on actions that simultaneously improve environmental and financial performance. This assumes that firms will undertake projects that offer such dual benefits. We consider what might prevent firms from pursuing such 'win-win' initiatives. We focus on how the degree of disruption of an energy-saving initiative affects its probability of adoption. We find that firms are significantly more likely to adopt moderately profitable, but easy initiatives than more profitable but disruptive ones. We also examine internal and external factors that moderate the effect of disruption. Our findings suggest that in order to incentivize firms to improve environmental performance, it might be more beneficial make these activities less disruptive than to make them more profitable.

A plant functional trait study was conducted to know the existing relationship between important leaf traits namely, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and leaf life span (LL) in tropical dry evergreen forest (TDEFs) of Peninsular India. Widely accepted methodologies were employed to record functional traits. The relationships between SLA and LDMC, LDMC and LL, and SLA and LL were measured. Pearson’s coefficient of correlation showed a significant negative relationship between SLA and LDMC, and SLA and LL, whereas a significant positive relationship was prevailed between LDMC and LL. The mean trait values (SLA, LDMC, and LL) of evergreens varied significantly from deciduous species. SLA had a closer relationship with LDMC than LL. Similarly, LL had a closer relationship with SLA than LDMC. Species with evergreen leaf habits dominated forest sites under study. Evergreen species dominate the study area with a high evergreen-deciduous ratio of 5.34:1. The S strategy score of trees indicated a relatively higher biomass allocation to persistent tissues. TDEFs occur in low elevation, semiarid environment, but with the combination of oligotrophic habitat, high temperature and longer dry season these forests were flourishing as a unique evergreen ecosystem in the drier environment. The relationships found between leaf traits were in concurrence with earlier findings. Trees of TDEFs survive on the poor-nutrient habitat with a low SLA, high LDMC, and LL. This study adds baseline data on key leaf traits to plant functional trait database of India.

Background Despite robust evidence confirming equivalent survival rates and better cosmetic outcomes with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and radiotherapy compared to mastectomy, the rates of mastectomy among women with early breast cancer have not declined significantly in Sri Lanka. This study explores views on the surgical treatment of breast cancer among Northern Sri Lankan women who were eligible for BCS but underwent mastectomy. Methods An exploratory descriptive qualitative study was carried out among 15 women who underwent mastectomy for early breast cancer. Patients who were referred to the Tellippalai Trail Cancer Hospital for adjuvant therapy after mastectomy and matched the study criteria were recruited. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed in Tamil, translated into English, coded using QDA Miner Lite software, and analysed thematically. Results Nine out of 15 participants were either not aware of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) as a treatment option or their eligibility for BCS at the time of mastectomy. According to participant narratives, the treating team had recommended mastectomy to most participants. While many opted for mastectomy believing that it was associated with lower rates of recurrence and spread compared to BCS, these beliefs were frequently reinforced by the treating team. The pros and cons of the two approaches had not been discussed before surgery with most participants. In the absence of information, family and friends weighed in on the decision to opt for mastectomy, ultimately resulting in feelings of loss and regret in most instances. Conclusion Most participants were not aware that they were eligible for BCS. These information gaps need to be urgently addressed for women to make informed decisions about their health.

The grinding wheel topography influences the cutting performance and thus the economic efficiency of a grinding process. In contrary to conventional grinding wheels, super abrasive grinding wheels should undergo an additional sharpening process after the initial profiling process to obtain a suitable microstructure of the grinding wheel. Due to the lack of scientific knowledge, the sharpening process is mostly performed manually in industrial practice. A CNC-controlled sharpening process can not only improve the reproducibility of grinding processes but also decrease the secondary processing time and thereby increase the economic efficiency significantly. To optimize the sharpening process, experimental investigations were carried out to identify the significant sharpening parameters influencing the grinding wheel topography. The sharpening block width lSb, the grain size of the sharpening block dkSb and the area-related material removal in sharpening V’’Sb were identified as the most significant parameters. Additional experiments were performed to further quantify the influence of the significant sharpening parameters. Based on that, a process model was developed to predict the required sharpening parameters for certain target topographies. By using the process model, constant work results and improved process reliability can be obtained.

The study of particle impact at high strain rates is crucial in fields ranging from materials science and engineering to space exploration and environmental science. In the particular case of cold spray, a particle undergoes intense plastic deformation upon impact, causing it to adhere to the target substrate. While metallic particles impacting on metallic substrates have been extensively studied, understanding the mechanical characteristics of polymeric particles on polymer and metal substrates requires further research. This study focuses on single particle impact modeling, analyzing impact parameters such as particle size, velocity, and angle of incidence using continuum mechanics finite element modeling in ANSYS explicit dynamics solver. The research explores the collision dynamics and develops practical guidelines for cold spray of thermoplastic polymers. Results indicate that particle impact velocity, angle, and initial temperature significantly affect the adhesion of thermoplastic particles on various substrates. Numerical results, validated by LIPIT experimental measurements, show that optimizing particle fracture behavior enhances adhesion. Practical approaches explored include tuning mechanical and fracture properties through molecular weight blending and modeling thin polymer films on high-stiffness substrates. Both methods improve adhesion by controlling particle fracture behavior, highlighting the importance of single-particle impact simulations as powerful, cost-effective predictive tools for understanding adhesion mechanisms in polymer cold spray deposition.

The criminal justice (CJ) system can be leveraged to access women for HIV prevention and treatment programs. Research is lacking on effective implementation strategies tailored to the specific needs of CJ-involved women. We conducted a scoping review of published studies in English from the United States that described HIV interventions, involved women or girls, and used the CJ system as an access point for sampling or intervention delivery. We identified 350 studies and synthesized data from 42 unique interventions, based in closed (n = 26), community (n = 7), or multiple/other CJ settings (n = 9). A minority of reviewed programs incorporated women-specific content or conducted gender-stratified analyses. CJ systems are comprised of diverse access points, each with unique strengths and challenges for implementing HIV treatment and prevention programs for women. Further study is warranted to develop women-specific and trauma-informed content and evaluate program effectiveness.