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Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to their low cost, reliability, and environmentally friendly nature. This study investigates the synthesis of solid sodium polymer electrolytes using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and sodium perchlorate (NaClO 4 ) at various molecular weight compositions. The solution casting technique is used to prepare solid sodium polymer electrolytes using dimethyl formamide as the solvent. The semicrystalline nature of PAN diminishes with an increase in NaClO 4 concentration. The XRD pattern of the 70 M wt.% PAN/30 M wt.% NaClO 4 polymer electrolyte reveals high amorphous nature. FTIR confirms complex formation between PAN and NaClO 4 . The high ionic conductivity has been found by impedance spectroscopy and optimized at 1.13 × 10 −2 S/cm for a composition of 70 M wt.% PAN/30 M wt.% NaClO 4 . DSC studies manifest a shift in the glass transition temperature, indicating an interaction between the polymer and the salt. The transference number measurement for the highly conducting polymer electrolyte is 0.98, which emphasizes that the conduction is primarily due to ions. The calculated activation energy is found to be low for the sample exhibiting the highest conductivity. The thermal stability and surface morphology of the prepared electrolytes are examined through thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cyclic stability of highly conducting polymer electrolyte is analyzed using cyclic voltammetry for 15 cycles. Linear sweep voltammetry exhibits high electrochemical stability at 3.34 V for 70 M wt.% PAN/30 M wt.% NaClO 4 . Primary Na + ion battery is fabricated with a highly conducting polymer electrolyte, resulting in an open circuit voltage (OCV) of 2.67 V.

In recent years, there is a demand for electrochemical devices based on biopolymer electrolyte over synthetic polymer electrolyte. In this study, development of zinc ion conducting membrane using pectin and ZnCl 2 has been made by solution casting technique. Developed polymer electrolyte membrane has been characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) to study the crystalline/amorphous nature of the polymer electrolyte. Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) confirms the complex formation between polymer and salt. The glass transition temperature ( T g ) of the biopolymer membrane has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). AC impedance technique has been used to study the ionic conductivity of the samples. The pectin with ZnCl 2 in the ratio of 40 M.wt% of pectin:60 M.wt% of ZnCl 2 exhibits the highest ionic conductivity in the order of 4.49 × 10 −3 S/cm having high amorphous nature. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) confirms the highest ionic conductivity biopolymer membrane has got electrochemical window to 2.36 V. Using the highest conductivity polymer electrolyte, zinc ion battery has been fabricated and output voltage is measured. The open-circuit voltage of the constructed zinc ion battery is found to be 1.84 V.

Rinsing the mouth with a carbohydrate (CHO) solution has been shown to enhance exercise performance while reducing neuromuscular fatigue. This effect is thought to be mediated through the stimulation of oral receptors, which activate brain areas associated with reward, motivation, and motor control. Consequently, corticomotor responsiveness is increased, leading to sustained levels of neuromuscular activity prior to fatigue. In the context of endurance performance, the evidence regarding the central involvement of mouth rinse (MR) in performance improvement is not conclusive. Peripheral mechanisms should not be disregarded, particularly considering factors such as low exercise volume, the participant's fasting state, and the frequency of rinsing. These factors may influence central activations. On the other hand, for strength-related activities, changes in motor evoked potential (MEP) and electromyography (EMG) have been observed, indicating increased corticospinal responsiveness and neuromuscular drive during isometric and isokinetic contractions in both fresh and fatigued muscles. However, it is important to note that in many studies, MEP data were not normalised, making it difficult to exclude peripheral contributions. Voluntary activation (VA), another central measure, often exhibits a lack of changes, mainly due to its high variability, particularly in fatigued muscles. Based on the evidence, MR can attenuate neuromuscular fatigue and improve endurance and strength performance via similar underlying mechanisms. However, the evidence supporting central contribution is weak due to the lack of neurophysiological measures, inaccurate data treatment (normalisation), limited generalisation between exercise modes, methodological biases (ignoring peripheral contribution), and high measurement variability.Trial registration: PROSPERO ID: CRD42021261714.The graphic depicts the main findings of the review and the benefits of MR on endurance and strength performance respectively. The figure also shows factors affecting MR response. TT Time trial, TTE Time to exhaustion, ISO-M Isometric contraction, ISO-K Isokinetic contraction, MR Mouth rinse

A single crystal (30 mm × 13 mm × 8 mm) of organic molecular compound, viz. tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBP-A), was successfully crystallized by slow solvent evaporation technique. The raw material was synthesized from electrochemical process. The single-crystal diffraction study infers that it belongs to the monoclinic crystal system with the space group of C2/c. Structural perfection was elucidated from high-resolution X-ray diffraction analysis. The characteristic functional groups were identified by FT-IR and micro-Raman spectral studies. UV–Visible spectral analysis establishes its optical transparency in the entire visible region and absorption characteristics at 230 nm. The double refraction nature of the crystal was documented by the direct visualization method. Room-temperature PL analysis with the excitation wavelength of 275 nm has resulted in five emission peaks at 353, 376, 410, 418 and 488 nm. TG/DTA evidences the thermal stability of TBBP-A up to the melting point (160 °C) without any structural/phase change. Vickers micro-hardness test and its measured mechanical parameters have suggested that the titled material belongs to soft material category. From the dielectric measurement, the grown crystal exhibits high dielectric constant at low frequencies due to the contribution of ionic, electronic, space charge and orientational polarizations.

The stress-strain properties of eutectic Sn-Pb and lead-free solders at strain rates between 0.1 s^sup -1^ and 300 s^sup -1^ are required to support finite-element modeling of the solder joints during board-level mechanical shock and product-level drop-impact testing. However, there is very limited data in this range because this is beyond the limit of conventional mechanical testing and below the limit of the split Hopkinson pressure bar test method. In this paper, a specialized drop-weight test was developed and, together with a conventional mechanical tester, the true stress-strain properties of four solder alloys (63Sn-37Pb, Sn-1.0Ag-0.1Cu, Sn-3.5Ag, and Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu) were generated for strain rates in the range from 0.005 s^sup -1^ to 300 s^sup -1^. The sensitivity of the solders was found to be independent of strain level but to increase with increased strain rate. The Sn-3.5Ag and the Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solders exhibited not only higher flow stress at relatively low strain rate but, compared to Sn-37Pb, both also exhibited higher rate sensitivity that contributes to the weakness of these two lead-free solder joints when subjected to drop impact loading. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Subcutaneous emphysema (SE) and pneumomediastinum can be spontaneous or traumatic in origin. Spontaneous SE involving cervical, parapharyngeal, mediastinal, pericardial, and pleural space together is rare, while epidural pneumatosis is an even rarer entity. We report a previously healthy teenage male with sudden onset chest pain whose plain radiographs and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) showed extensive spread of air in the mediastinum, pericardial space, pleural space, and epidural space. He was hemodynamically stable and had a spontaneous recovery after one week. Follow-up radiological imaging showed complete radiological resolution of gas lucencies.It is quite important for clinicians to be aware of this condition, common and rare routes of extension, and possible complications. Clinical suspicion is vital to plan appropriate investigations especially radiological modalities such as chest X-ray and HRCT. This will help in evaluating the severity of the condition, exclude possible etiologies, and look for potential complications so that proper management and follow-up can be planned.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a staple food crops in the arid and rainfed production ecologies. Sorghum plays a critical role in resilient farming and is projected as a smart crop to overcome the food and nutritional insecurity in the developing world. The development and characterisation of the sorghum pan-genome will provide insight into genome diversity and functionality, supporting sorghum improvement. We built a sorghum pan-genome using reference genomes as well as 354 genetically diverse sorghum accessions belonging to different races. We explored the structural and functional characteristics of the pan-genome and explain its utility in supporting genetic gain. The newly-developed pan-genome has a total of 35,719 genes, a core genome of 16,821 genes and an average of 32,795 genes in each cultivar. The variable genes are enriched with environment responsive genes and classify the sorghum accessions according to their race.We show that 53%of genes display presence-absence variation, and some of these variable genes are predicted to be functionally associated with drought adaptation traits. Using more than two million SNPs from the pan-genome, association analysis identified 398 SNPs significantly associated with important agronomic traits, of which, 92 were in genes. Drought gene expression analysis identified 1,788 genes that are functionally linked to different conditions, of which 79 were absent from the reference genome assembly. This study provides comprehensive genomic diversity resources in sorghum which can be used in genome assisted crop improvement.

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the resistance of solder joints to failure when subjected to strain rates that simulate the conditions of drop impact experienced by a portable electronic product. Two test methods are used in this study: the board-level drop-shock test (BLDST) and the board-level high-speed cyclic bend test (HSCBT). The performance of (i) 12 material combinations consisting of six solder alloys and two pad finishes, and (ii) 11 manufacturing variations covering three vendors, two finishes, three immersion gold thicknesses, and three thermal aging conditions were investigated using these two test methods. Correlations between the two test methods were performed. Quantitative correlation and sensitivity coefficients for the failure modes and the measured characteristic parameters-number of drops to failure for BLDST and number of cycles to failure for HSCBT-were evaluated. Finally, the potential of HSCBT as a test method for material selection and for bridging board-level and product-level tests was demonstrated through generation of board strain versus number of cycles to failure (S-N) curves of solder joints for six material systems, four bending frequencies, and two test temperatures. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Caesarean section (CS) is the most common inpatient surgical procedure performed in Canada. CS is known to cause moderate-to-severe pain, which is suggested to be associated with postpartum depression and persistent pain. Existing limitations in multimodal analgesia and conscious attempts to avoid opioids highlight the need for non-pharmacological strategies. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) uses light-emitting diode (LED) and laser and has suggested potential for improving pain control and wound healing. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of PBMT as part of existing multimodal analgesia after elective CSs. This placebo-controlled, two-arm, multi-centre, parallel-design randomized controlled trial includes women aged ≥16 years with planned CS under spinal anesthesia (Clinical Trials Registration: NCT05738239). Patients will be randomized post-CS to intervention (n = 90) or placebo (n = 90). Study interventions will be carried out using equipment supported by Meditech International Incorporated (approved by Health Canada for pain relief). Patients will receive a maximum of 5 post-surgical treatment sessions of active PBMT (intervention: LED therapy: DUO 240 [red at 660nm and near-infrared at 840nm] applied parallel to the abdominal incision scar, followed by BIOFLEX LDR-100 laser probe (660nm red light) and the LD1-200 laser probe (825nm near-infrared light), applied at the incision wound edges) or non-effective doses of LED array and laser therapy (placebo), 4-6 hrs post-CS, and at 8am and 7pm of postoperative days 1 and 2. Patients, research assistants involved in patient recruitment and follow-up, health care providers, and data analysts will be blinded. All patients will have access to routine multimodal analgesia. Patients will be followed up in hospital on the evening of surgery and on postoperative days 1 and 2 (morning, noon, and evening); at 6 weeks; and at 3 months by telephone. Primary outcome is pain intensity with movement (elicited by asking the patient to move from supine to sitting position) using 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain). The results of this study may result in improved pain control, maternal satisfaction and wound healing; decrease the use of perioperative opioids; potentially decrease the incidence of postpartum depression and persistent pain; and overall lead to better postoperative outcomes thereby decreasing healthcare costs.

The draft genome sequence of an agriculturally important actinobacterial species Amycolatopsis sp. BCA-696 was developed and characterized in this study. Amycolatopsis BCA-696 is known for its biocontrol properties against charcoal rot and also for plant growth-promotion (PGP) in several crop species. The next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based draft genome of Amycolatopsis sp. BCA-696 comprised of ~ 9.05 Mb linear chromosome with 68.75% GC content. In total, 8716 protein-coding sequences and 61 RNA-coding sequences were predicted in the genome. This newly developed genome sequence has been also characterized for biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and biosynthetic pathways. Furthermore, we have also reported that the Amycolatopsis sp. BCA-696 produces the glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin that inhibits the growth of pathogenic gram-positive bacteria. A comparative analysis of the BCA-696 genome with publicly available closely related genomes of 14 strains of Amycolatopsis has also been conducted. The comparative analysis has identified a total of 4733 core and 466 unique orthologous genes present in the BCA-696 genome The unique genes present in BCA-696 was enriched with antibiotic biosynthesis and resistance functions. Genome assembly of the BCA-696 has also provided genes involved in key pathways related to PGP and biocontrol traits such as siderophores, chitinase, and cellulase production.