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The continued development of ferroelectric materials into more and more consumer led applications has been at the forefront of recent ferroelectric material research. It is, however, possible to view a ferroelectric as a wide band gap semi-conductor that can sustain a surface charge density. This charge density arises from the movement of ions in the crystal lattice and the need to compensate for this charge. When viewing ferroelectrics as polarisable semi-conductors a large number of new interactions are possible. One such is the use of super band gap illumination to generate electron–hole pairs. These photogenerated carriers can then perform local electrochemistry. What is most interesting for ferroelectric materials is that the REDOX chemistry can be chosen by selectively modifying the domain structure of the ferroelectric—we can perform oxidation and reduction on the surface of the same material at spatially separate locations, or use the material to drive photoexcited carriers apart. This means we can separate the REDOX products or produce patterns of photogenerated material in places we have predetermined. This review aims to introduce the background research that has led to the current understanding as well a highlight some of the current areas that require further development.

The requirement for alternatives in roll-to-roll (R2R) processing to expand thin film inspection in wider substrates at lower costs and reduced dimensions, and the need to enable newer control feedback options for these types of processes, represents an opportunity to explore the applicability of newer reduced-size spectrometers sensors. This paper presents the hardware and software development of a novel low-cost spectroscopic reflectance system using two state-of-the-art sensors for thin film thickness measurements. The parameters to enable the thin film measurements using the proposed system are the light intensity for two LEDs, the microprocessor integration time for both sensors and the distance from the thin film standard to the device light channel slit for reflectance calculations. The proposed system can deliver better-fit errors compared with a HAL/DEUT light source using two methods: curve fitting and interference interval. By enabling the curve fitting method, the lowest root mean squared error (RMSE) obtained for the best combination of components was 0.022 and the lowest normalised mean squared error (MSE) was 0.054. The interference interval method showed an error of 0.09 when comparing the measured with the expected modelled value. The proof of concept in this research work enables the expansion of multi-sensor arrays for thin film thickness measurements and the potential application in moving environments.

A green revolution has accelerated over the recent decades with a look to replace existing transportation power solutions through the adoption of greener electrical alternatives. In parallel the digitisation of manufacturing has enabled progress in the tracking and traceability of processes and improvements in fault detection and classification. This paper explores electrical machine manufacture and the challenges faced in identifying failures modes during this life cycle through the demonstration of state-of-the-art machine vision methods for the classification of electrical coil winding defects. We demonstrate how recent generative adversarial networks can be used to augment training of these models to further improve their accuracy for this challenging task. Our approach utilises pre-processing and dimensionality reduction to boost performance of the model from a standard convolutional neural network (CNN) leading to a significant increase in accuracy.

The viability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb ) depends on energy generated by its respiratory chain. Cytochrome bc1-aa3 oxidase and type-2 NADH dehydrogenase (NDH-2) are respiratory chain components predicted to be essential, and are currently targeted for drug development. Here we demonstrate that an Mtb cytochrome bc1-aa3 oxidase deletion mutant is viable and only partially attenuated in mice. Moreover, treatment of Mtb -infected marmosets with a cytochrome bc1-aa3 oxidase inhibitor controls disease progression and reduces lesion-associated inflammation, but most lesions become cavitary. Deletion of both NDH-2 encoding genes (Δ ndh-2 mutant) reveals that the essentiality of NDH-2 as shown in standard growth media is due to the presence of fatty acids. The Δ ndh-2 mutant is only mildly attenuated in mice and not differently susceptible to clofazimine, a drug in clinical use proposed to engage NDH-2. These results demonstrate the intrinsic plasticity of Mtb ’s respiratory chain, and highlight the challenges associated with targeting the pathogen’s respiratory enzymes for tuberculosis drug development. New tuberculosis therapies, targeting respiratory chain components of Mycobacterium tuberculosis , are under development. Here the authors show that, contrary to common belief, some of these components are not essential for pathogen viability and/or virulence in animal models of infection.

Within aerospace and automotive manufacturing, the majority of quality assurance is through inspection or tests at various steps during manufacturing and assembly. Such tests do not tend to capture or make use of process data for in-process inspection and certification at the point of manufacture. Inspection of the product during manufacturing can potentially detect defects, thus allowing consistent product quality and reducing scrappage. However, a review of the literature has revealed a lack of any significant research in the area of inspection during the manufacturing of terminations. This work utilises infrared thermal imaging and machine learning techniques for inspection of the enamel removal process on Litz wire, typically used for aerospace and automotive applications. Infrared thermal imaging was utilised to inspect bundles of Litz wire containing those with and without enamel. The temperature profiles of the wires with or without enamel were recorded and then machine learning techniques were utilised for automated inspection of enamel removal. The feasibility of various classifier models for identifying the remaining enamel on a set of enamelled copper wires was evaluated. A comparison of the performance of classifier models in terms of classification accuracy is presented. The best model for enamel classification accuracy was the Gaussian Mixture Model with expectation maximisation; it achieved a training accuracy of 85% and enamel classification accuracy of 100% with the fastest evaluation time of 1.05 s. The support vector classification model achieved both the training and enamel classification accuracy of more than 82%; however, it suffered the drawback of a higher evaluation time of 134 s.

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementation of designer dietary antioxidant micronutrients on udder health, milk yield, and its quality in buffaloes under field conditions. Sixteen healthy multiparous advanced pregnant graded Murrah buffaloes (around the last 3 months of gestation), identical in body weights, parity, and feeding conditions, were selected for the study. Feed offered and residues left of an individual animal were measured and recorded for 7 consecutive days with the sampling of feeds being offered to buffaloes and analyzed for dry matter and trace minerals Zn, Cu, and Se. Carotene and vitamin E content of offered feed samples were calculated based on reported values. The calculation was made to determine the deficiency of above micronutrients, and an antioxidant micronutrient supplement was designed to take care of the deficient micronutrients and supplemented in half of the buffaloes (n = 8) considered to be a treatment, while remaining half (n = 8) is considered to be control, fed as per the existing practice of farmer without additional supplementation. This supplementation study was continued for 2 months during advanced pregnancy and thereafter for 3 months post-calving. Dry matter intake recorded weekly during the pre- and postpartum period of study remained comparable (P > 0.05) between two groups. Udder health monitored fortnightly by modified California mastitis test, milk pH and somatic cell count indicated improvement (P < 0.05) of strategic antioxidant micronutrients supplementation. Milk yield started showing improvement (P < 0.05) as early as the first week after starting lactation with throughout enhanced (P < 0.05) values of milk protein, fat percentage, and fat-corrected milk yield. It may be concluded that strategic antioxidant micronutrient supplementation (Zn, Cu, and vitamins A and E) in the ration of peri-parturient buffaloes not only improved the udder health by reducing the occurrence of mastitis but also increased the milk yield as well as fat and protein percentage of milk.

Although leprosy is curable, many affected individuals continue to face disability, stigma, and poverty. In Nepal, sustaining progress after elimination remains challenging, making community-based approaches such as self-care and self-help groups crucial for long-term health and social inclusion. This study investigates how self-help groups and cooperatives contribute to sustaining community-driven leprosy management efforts. For this study only qualitative data are utilized which involves people affected by leprosy, single women, community stakeholders, and facilitators. Conventional content analysis was employed to examine the data, focusing on participants' experiences and perceptions. Self-help groups were instrumental in reducing social stigma and promoting social inclusion for marginalized individuals. These groups empowered members by building skills in hygiene, self-care, awareness of gender-based violence, and financial management, enabling them to assert their rights, manage finances, and contribute to household decisions, thereby fostering long-term socio-economic resilience. Transitioning to a cooperative model provided legal recognition and financial security, with leadership and trust being crucial for continued growth. The transition to cooperatives offers a promising path for sustainable development, ensuring legal recognition and financial stability while reducing stigma and improving societal perceptions towards leprosy, disability, and marginalized communities.

The tuberculin skin test is commonly used to diagnose latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in resource-limited settings, but its specificity is limited by factors including cross-reactivity with BCG vaccine and environmental mycobacteria. Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) overcome this problem by detecting M. tuberculosis complex-specific responses, but studies to determine risk factors for IGRA-positivity in high TB burden settings are lacking. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine factors associated with a positive IGRA by employing the QuantiFERON-TB® Gold-plus (QFT Plus) assay in a cohort of asymptomatic adult TB contacts in Kampala, Uganda. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with forward stepwise logit function was employed to identify independent correlates of QFT Plus-positivity. Of the 202 participants enrolled, 129/202 (64%) were female, 173/202 (86%) had a BCG scar, and 67/202 (33%) were HIV-infected. Overall, 105/192 (54%, 95% CI 0.48-0.62) participants had a positive QFT Plus result. Increased risk of QFT-Plus positivity was independently associated with casual employment/unemployment vs. non-casual employment (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.18, 95% CI 1.01-4.72), a family vs. non-family relation to the index patient (aOR 2.87, 95% CI 1.33-6.18), living in the same vs. a different house as the index (aOR 3.05, 95% CI 1.28-7.29), a higher body mass index (BMI) (aOR per additional kg/m2 1.09, 95% CI 1.00-1.18) and tobacco smoking vs. not (aOR 2.94, 95% CI 1.00-8.60). HIV infection was not associated with QFT-Plus positivity (aOR 0.91, 95% CI 0.42-1.96). Interferon Gamma Release Assay positivity in this study population was lower than previously estimated. Tobacco smoking and BMI were determinants of IGRA positivity that were previously unappreciated.

Angiotensin II (AII), has been suggested to promote muscle loss. Reducing AII synthesis, by inhibiting angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity has been proposed as a method to inhibit muscle loss. The LACE clinical trial was designed to determine whether ACE inhibition would reduce further muscle loss in individuals with sarcopenia but suffered from low recruitment and returned a negative result. Polymorphic variation in the ACE promoter (I/D alleles) has been associated with differences in ACE activity and muscle physiology in a range of clinical conditions. This aim of this analysis was to determine whether I/D polymorphic variation is associated with muscle mass, strength, in sarcopenia or contributed to the lack of response to treatment in the LACE study. Sarcopenic individuals were recruited into a 2x2 factorial multicentre double-blind study of the effects of perindopril and/or leucine versus placebo on physical performance and muscle mass. DNA extracted from blood samples (n = 130 72 women and 58 men) was genotyped by PCR for the ACE I/D polymorphism. Genotypes were then compared with body composition measured by DXA, hand grip and quadriceps strength before and after 12 months' treatment with leucine and/or perindopril in a cross-sectional analysis of the influence of genotype on these variables. Allele frequencies for the normal UK population were extracted from 13 previous studies (I = 0.473, D = 0.527). In the LACE cohort the D allele was over-represented (I = 0.412, D = 0.588, p = 0.046). This over-representation was present in men (I = 0.353, D = 0.647, p = 0.010) but not women (I = 0.458, D = 0.532, p = 0.708). In men but not women, individuals with the I allele had greater leg strength (II/ID = 18.00 kg (14.50, 21.60) vs DD = 13.20 kg (10.50, 15.90), p = 0.028). Over the 12 months individuals with the DD genotype increased in quadriceps strength but those with the II or ID genotype did not. Perindopril did not increase muscle strength or mass in any polymorphism group relative to placebo. Our results suggest that although ACE genotype was not associated with response to ACE inhibitor therapy in the LACE trial population, sarcopenic men with the ACE DD genotype may be weaker than those with the ACE I/D or II genotype.

Ageing is associated with changes in body composition including an overall reduction in muscle mass and a proportionate increase in fat mass. Sarcopenia is characterised by losses in both muscle mass and strength. Body composition and muscle strength are at least in part genetically determined, consequently polymorphisms in pathways important in muscle biology (e.g., the activin/myostatin signalling pathway) are hypothesised to contribute to the development of sarcopenia. We compared regional body composition measured by DXA with genotypes for two polymorphisms (rs10783486, minor allele frequency (MAF) = 0.26 and rs2854464, MAF = 0.26) in the activin 1B receptor (ACVR1B) determined by PCR in a cross-sectional analysis of DNA from 110 older individuals with sarcopenia from the LACE trial. Neither muscle mass nor strength showed any significant associations with either genotype in this cohort. Initial analysis of rs10783486 showed that males with the AA/AG genotype were taller than GG males (174±7cm vs 170±5cm, p = 0.023) and had higher arm fat mass, (median higher by 15%, p = 0.008), and leg fat mass (median higher by 14%, p = 0.042). After correcting for height, arm fat mass remained significantly higher (median higher by 4% p.sub.adj = 0.024). No associations (adjusted or unadjusted) were seen in females. Similar analysis of the rs2854464 allele showed a similar pattern with the presence of the minor allele (GG/AG) being associated with greater height (GG/AG = 174±7 cm vs AA = 170 ±5cm, p = 0.017) and greater arm fat mass (median higher by 16%, p = 0.023). Again, the difference in arm fat remained after correction for height. No similar associations were seen in females analysed alone. These data suggest that polymorphic variation in the ACVR1B locus could be associated with body composition in older males. The activin/myostatin pathway might offer a novel potential target to prevent fat accumulation in older individuals.