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Aluminum alloys have become vital in industries such as aerospace and automotive due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and versatility. This study examines traditional joining methods like welding, brazing, and mechanical fastening, alongside modern innovations such as friction stir welding (FSW), laser beam welding (LBW), and hybrid laser arc welding (HLAW). These techniques enhance aluminium alloys' mechanical performance and structural integrity, addressing challenges like hydrogen embrittlement and environmental concerns associated with hexavalent chromium. It discusses recent efforts to improve fatigue resistance, fracture toughness, and thermal stability, emphasizing the role of advanced alloys in meeting industry demands. The study concludes by identifying future research directions in alloy design, sustainable manufacturing practices, and the integration of emerging technologies to optimize aluminum alloys for next-generation applications.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.854562.].[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.854562.].

Laser beam welding is the most modern and promising process for the automatic or robotized welding of structures of the highest Execution Class, EXC3-4, which are made of a variety of weldable structural materials, mainly steel, titanium, and nickel alloys, but also a limited range of aluminum, magnesium, and copper alloys, reactive materials, and even thermoplastics. This paper presents a systematic review and analysis of the author’s research results, research articles, industrial catalogs, technical notes, etc., regarding laser beam welding (LBW) and laser hybrid welding (LHW) processes. Examples of industrial applications of the melt-in-mode and keyhole-mode laser welding techniques for low-alloy and high-alloy steel joints are analyzed. The influence of basic LBW and LHW parameters on the quality of welded joints proves that the laser beam power, welding speed, and Gas Metal Arc (GMA) welding current firmly decide the quality of welded joints. A brief review of the artificial intelligence (AI)-supported online quality-monitoring systems for LBW and LHW processes indicates the decisive influence on the quality control of welded joints.

Background Kangaroo mother care is a comprehensive intervention given for all newborns especially for premature and low birthweight infants. It is the most feasible and preferred intervention for decreasing neonatal morbidity and mortality. Even though time to initiating breastfeeding has been examined by randomized controlled trials, varying findings have been reported. Therefore, the main objective of this meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled mean time to initiate breastfeeding among preterm and low birthweight infants. Methods The authors searched for randomized controlled trial studies conducted on the effects of kangaroo mother care on the time to breastfeeding initiation among preterm and low birthweight infants. Published articles were identified through a computerized search of electronic databases that includes MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and CENTRAL. The search terms were kangaroo mother care or (skin to skin), or conventional care, newborns, preterm infants, low birthweight infants and randomized controlled trial. A total of 467 eligible titles were identified and eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The extracted data were entered and analyzed using Cochrane Review Manager-5-3 software. Heterogeneity across studies was evaluated by Chi 2 test and inconsistency index (I 2 ). Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot. The random effect model was applied to estimate the pooled mean time to initiate breastfeeding with 95% confidence interval. Results In this meta-analysis, the overall pooled mean time to initiate breastfeeding was 2.6 days (95% CI 1.23, 3.96). Preterm and low birthweight infants receiving kangaroo mother care intervention initiated breastfeeding 2 days 14 h 24 min earlier than conventional care of radiant warmer/incubator method. Conclusions Kangaroo mother care promotes early initiation of breastfeeding as compared to conventional care method. Therefore, health facilities need to implement the kangaroo mother care for preterm and low birthweight infants.

AimDeficiency of iron affects multiple organ systems, and poor neurodevelopment is the most worrisome effect. Low birth weight neonates are more likely to develop iron deficiency anemia than term counterparts. The guidelines for supplementation of iron in LBW neonates are ill-defined with varying recommendations pertaining to the intiation. Hence this study focuses on the effect of early supplementation of iron and its effect on iron store status in them.Material and MethodIn this randomized open label interventional tudy, 48 LBW neonates (EI group) were administered iron supplementation (at 2 weeks or when full feeds achieved), and other 48 were controls. All neonates were assessed for hemoglobin level, RBC count and iron status indicators (PCV, Serum Ferritin) at or after 6 weeks of postnatal age.ResultsThe post-intervention values of mean haemoglobin (CASES 12.68± 1.51 g⁄dl, CONTROLS-11.38±1.03 g/dl), mean serum ferritin (CASES: 238.45 ng/ml, CONTROLS- 175.68 ng/ml), mean RBC count (CASES: 3.94±0.86 million/mm3, CONTROLS 3.16 ±0.51 million/mm3), and mean hematocrit (CASES: 33.16 ±3.75%, CONTROLS 34.04±3.45%) were noted, and the% change at 6 weeks follow up in mean Hb among CASES - 25.19%, CONTROLS 31.45% (p value:<0.01);% change in mean ferritin at follow up: CASES 15.13%, CONTROLS 32.99%(p value:<0.001);% change in mean RBC count at follow up: CASES 19.21%, CONTROLS 33.82% (p value:<0.001)] when compared to pre- inetervention values was noted. Though the haematological parameters decreased in both groups, the levels were comparatively higher in the cases compared to the controls, and iron store status was better in early iron-supplemented infants.ConclusionsIron supplementation as early as 2 weeks of postnatal age in LBW neonates improves the iron store status and reduces the incidence of iron deficiency in them.

Background Low birth weight (LBW) predisposes physical and mental growth failure and premature death among infants. Studies report that LBW predominately explains infant mortality. However, existing studies rarely demonstrate the phenomenon of both observed and unobserved factors, which may influence the likelihood of birth and mortality outcomes simultaneously. In this study, we identified the spatial clustering of the prevalence of LBW along with its determinants. Further, the relationship between of LBW and infant mortality, considering the unobserved factors, has been explored in the study. Methods Data for this study have been extracted from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) round 5, 2019-21. We used the directed acyclic graph model to identify the potential predictors of LBW and infant mortality. Moran’s I statistics have been used to identify the high-risk areas of LBW. We applied conditional mixed process modelling in Stata software to account for the simultaneous nature of occurrences of the outcomes. The final model has been performed after imputing the missing data of LBW. Results Overall, in India, 53% of the mothers reported their babies’ birth weight by seeing health card, 36% reported by recall, and about 10% of the LBW information was observed as missing. The state/union territory of Punjab and Delhi were observed to have the highest levels of LBW (about 22%) which is much higher than the national level (18%). The effect of LBW was more than four times larger compared to the effect in the analysis which does not account for the simultaneous occurrence of LBW and infant mortality (marginal effect; from 12 to 53%). Also, in a separate analysis, the imputation technique has been used to address the missing data. Covariates’ effects showed that female children, higher order births, births that occur in Muslim and non-poor families and literate mothers were negatively associated with infant mortality. However, a significant difference was observed in the impact of LBW before and after imputing the missing values. Conclusions The current findings showed the significant association of LBW with infant deaths, highlighting the importance of prioritising policies that help improve the birth weight of new-born children that may significantly reduce the infant mortality in India.

The welding industry is facing increasing demands for improved productivity, efficiency, and quality, particularly in the laser beam welding process. As advanced materials with complex compositions are used to achieve specific functional properties, there is a growing need for a comprehensive and precise understanding of how these materials can be effectively and efficiently joined. In this paper, we present an innovative and comprehensive model that can accurately predict the geometrical, metallurgical, and mechanical characteristics of the laser beam welding process. The model consists of two main subsystems: the thermal dynamic model and the characteristic model. The thermal dynamic model captures essential parameters such as melt pool dimension, maximum temperature, and cooling rates throughout the welding process. This enables the prediction of geometrical characteristics of the weld, particularly in terms of melt pool dimension. The characteristic model encompasses sections dedicated to geometrical, metallurgical, and mechanical characteristics. By analyzing the cooling rate, the model can diagnose important metallurgical characteristics, including primary dendrite arm spacing (PDAS) and secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS). Based on the PDAS and SDAS, the model predicts the mechanical strength during the welding process. The results of our study demonstrate the exceptional accuracy of model 2, which incorporates both primary and secondary dendritic arm distances. The model achieved impressively low error rates of only 0.8298% and 0.8300% for PDAS and SDAS, respectively. These findings highlight the model’s reliability and effectiveness in predicting the mechanical strength of welded joints during the laser beam welding process. This comprehensive model offers valuable insights and predictive capabilities that are crucial for optimizing the welding process and achieving superior productivity, efficiency, and quality. By accurately predicting the geometrical, metallurgical, and mechanical characteristics, it enables engineers and researchers to make informed decisions, enhance process control, and ensure the successful integration of advanced materials in laser beam welding applications.

According to studies undertaken over the past 40 years, low birthweight (LBW) is not only a significant predictor of perinatal death and morbidity, but also increases the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the research on LBW as a risk factor for NCDs in adults. The Barker hypothesis was based on the finding that adults with an LBW or an unhealthy intrauterine environment, as well as a rapid catch-up, die due to NCDs. Over the last few decades, terminology such as thrifty genes, fetal programming, developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), and epigenetic factors have been coined. The most common NCDs include cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2), hypertension (HT), dyslipidemia, proteinuria, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Studies in mothers who experienced famine and those that solely reported birth weight as a risk factor for mortality support the concept. Although the etiology of NCD is unknown, Barry Brenner explained the notion of a low glomerular number (nGlom) in LBW children, followed by the progression to hyperfiltration as the physiopathologic etiology of HT and CKD in adults based on Guyton's renal physiology work. Autopsies of several ethnic groups have revealed anatomopathologic evidence in fetuses and adult kidneys. Because of the renal reserve, demonstrating renal function in proportion to renal volume in vivo is more difficult in adults. The greatest impact of these theories can be seen in pediatrics and obstetrics practice.

Background Reducing neonatal mortality is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.2. In Tanzania and other low- and middle-income countries, many babies are born at home or in primary health care settings without access to weighing scales. Other anthropometric measurements apart from weight may serve as effective surrogates for identifying low birth weight (LBW) infants and prioritizing them for care. Objectives This study aimed to assess the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of four anthropometric measurements chest circumference (CHC), occipitofrontal circumference (OFC), foot length (FL), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and determine the optimal cut-off values for detecting LBW infants. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the neonatal unit at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH). Newborns admitted within 24 h of birth were enrolled. A total of 471 newborns had CHC, OFC, FL, MUAC, and birth weight (BW) measured. Pearson’s correlation coefficient assessed the relationship between these measurements and birth weight. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to determine optimal cut-off points. Results Of 471 newborns, 52.2% were female. The mean birth weight was 2639 g (SD = 851), with 43.1% (203) classified as LBW. A strong positive correlation of 0.90 was found between CHC and BW ( p  < 0.01), followed by OFC (0.82, p  < 0.01). ROC analysis showed CHC (AUC = 0.97, 95% CI 0.97–0.98) and OFC (AUC = 0.94, 95% CI 0.92–0.96) as the most reliable indicators for detecting LBW. The optimal cut-off values were ≤ 29.45 cm for CHC and ≤ 32.9 cm for OFC. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that CHC with a cutoff ≤29.45 cm and OFC with a cutoff  ≤ 32.9 cm has higher sensitivity and specificity for predicting low birth weight among neonates compared to FL or MUAC, indicating greater accuracy in detecting LBW in Tanzania. Our findings apply specifically to LBW newborns; we did not classify IUGR or SGA separately, and further studies are required to validate these cut-offs in those populations.

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the burden of low birthweight (LBW) remains high, leading to considerable short- and long-term consequences for both newborns and mothers. However, limited evidence exists on the disparities and geographical distribution of LBW among adolescent (15–19 years) and non-adolescent women (20–49 years). This study aimed to assess the age-related disparity, geospatial distribution and determinants of LBW in SSA. The study used Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 33 SSA countries released between 2010 and 2023. Concentration curves and indices, absolute and relative difference measures, spatial autocorrelation and hotspot analysis, and multilevel modelling were employed to explore differences in LBW by maternal age group. A total of 27,889 (15.5%) of adolescent women and 152,521 (84.5%) non-adolescent women were included in the analysis. LBW was significantly concentrated among adolescents (CI = − 0.096, p  < 0.001), with a 13.2% prevalence compared to 8.3% in non-adolescents, highlighting a 4.9% absolute difference (relative difference = 1.60, p  < 0.001). Lower educational level, unemployment, fewer number of antenatal care (ANC) visits, lacking permission to get medical care and being single marital status were the common variables significantly associated with LBW in both adolescent and non-adolescent women. However, unintended pregnancy and early sexual initiation were significantly associated with LBW in only adolescent women while distance to healthcare facilities and lower parity were found to be significantly associated with LBW only in non-adolescent women. At community level, region was a significant factor for LBW in both groups. Spatial autocorrelation and hotspot analysis showed that LBW was randomly distributed among adolescents (Moran’s test of − 0.0106 and  p value = 0.904) but clustered in Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and Chad for non-adolescent women. This study found significant age-related disparities in LBW across SSA, with adolescent mothers facing a disproportionate burden. This underscores the need to focus on preventing adolescent pregnancy and providing support for pregnant adolescents by improving access to ANC, education, and economic empowerment to prevent adverse birth outcomes. Random distribution of LBW in adolescent women indicates the need for adolescent-specific regional interventions across SSA countries.