High Index Sensitivity Research Articles

Dynamically tunable highly sensitive sensor based on graphene and black phosphorus composite metamaterial

Focusing on the realization of multiple-detection-point sensors in the mid-infrared band, a dynamically tunable high-sensitive index refraction sensor based on graphene and black phosphorus (BP) composite metamaterial is proposed. By adjusting the height of the grating, the strength of the structural plasmon-induced absorption (PIA) can be enhanced within a certain range. The energy transfer mechanism of the system is analyzed by the coupled mode theory (CMT), the theoretical data of CMT fit well with the FDTD simulation results, which proves that the analysis of the system using the CMT model is correct. The resonant wavelengths of the PIA can be efficiently modulated by changing the Fermi level of graphene and the carrier density of BP. It is worth mentioning that under different environmental refractive indexes, our proposed system has excellent sensing characteristics in the mid-infrared band. The maximum sensitivity and the maximum figure of merit (FOM) are up to 5.174 μm/RIU and 26.449, respectively. This research could play an important role in mid-infrared optical sensors.

Sesame, an Underutilized Oil Seed Crop: Breeding Achievements and Future Challenges.

Sesame seeds and their edible oil are highly nutritious and rich in mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Bioactive compounds such as sterols, tocopherols, and sesamol provide significant medicinal benefits. The high oil content (50%) and favorable mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid balance, as well as resilience to water stress, make sesame a promising candidate crop for global agricultural expansion. However, sesame production faces challenges such as low yields, poor response to agricultural inputs, and losses due to capsule dehiscence. To enhance yield, traits like determinate growth, dwarfism, a high harvest index, non-shattering capsules, disease resistance, and photoperiod sensitivity are needed. These traits can be achieved through variation or induced mutation breeding. Crossbreeding methods often result in unwanted genetic changes. The gene editing CRISPR/Cas9 technology has the potential to suppress detrimental alleles and improve the fatty acid profile by inhibiting polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. Even though sesame is an orphan crop, it has entered the genomic era, with available sequences assisting molecular breeding efforts. This progress aids in associating single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and simple sequence repeats (SSR) with key economic traits, as well as identifying genes related to adaptability, oil production, fatty acid synthesis, and photosynthesis. Additionally, transcriptomic research can reveal genes involved in abiotic stress responses and adaptation to diverse climates. The mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) can identify loci linked to key traits such as capsule size, seed count per capsule, and capsule number per plant. This article reviews recent advances in sesame breeding, discusses ongoing challenges, and explores potential strategies for future improvement. Hence, integrating advanced genomic tools and breeding strategies provides promising ways to enhance sesame production to meet global demands.

Analysis of Heat Mitigation Capacity in a Coastal City using InVEST Urban Cooling Model

Measures are needed to alleviate the urban heat island (UHI) problem, which has become increasingly severe due to recent climate change. The InVEST urban cooling model (UCM) estimates the heat mitigation capacity of cities based on land use, weather, and biophysical data. This study evaluated the applicability of InVEST UCM to coastal areas, which was mainly applied to inland areas. Sensitivity analysis, model calibration, and reclassification of land use and land cover maps were also conducted to increase the model's accuracy. Using linear regression analysis between the heat mitigation index and surface temperature, the results showed that sensitivity analysis and model calibration could improve the accuracy. The model validation results demonstrated that the InVEST UCM could be used reliably in coastal areas. The verified model, whose reliability has been secured through the calibration and validation processes, can help select regions where heat mitigation methods should be introduced. The results showed that heat mitigation measures such as nature-based solutions should be introduced preferentially in areas with high Heat Mitigation Index (HMI) sensitivity to crop coefficient (Kc) and low average HMI values or high HMI sensitivity and large Kc to HMI ratios. These areas include mixed, seaport, commercial & business, and industrial.

Study of the soothing effects of troxerutin in alleviating skin sensitivity.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is associated with skin sensitivity and mainly activated by capsaicin and heat. Interestingly, troxerutin can inhibit TRPV1 activation. However, its efficacy in reducing skin sensitivity remains undetermined. We evaluated the efficacy of troxerutin in alleviating skin sensitivity using clinical tests and invitro experiments. For the invitro experiment, HaCaT keratinocytes were pretreated with different concentrations of troxerutin, followed by incubation with 50 μM capsaicin for 1, 24, or 48 h. The gene and protein expressions of four inflammatory cytokines involved in skin irritation were determined. Among 35 Korean women with sensitive skin recruited for the clinical trial, 13 were involved in assessing the immediate soothing effects of 0.1% and 0.0095% troxerutin following capsaicin irritation, whereas 22 participated in evaluating the preventive soothing effect of 10% and 1% troxerutin over 4 weeks against capsaicin- and heat-induced irritation. We evaluated the soothing rate using skin redness, visual analog scale, and high temperature sensitive index as evaluation indices. Troxerutin inhibited the mRNA and protein expressions of cytokines in capsaicin-treated keratinocytes. In the clinical study, 0.1% and 0.0095% troxerutin promptly alleviated capsaicin-induced skin redness, whereas 10% troxerutin notably decreased both the visual analog scale and high temperature sensitive index for capsaicin- and heat-related irritation. However, 1% troxerutin was only effective in reducing the visual analog scale in response to capsaicin irritation. Troxerutin can inhibit TRPV1 activation in clinical and invitro tests.

Stronger control of eating 3 months after sleeve gastrectomy predicts successful weight loss outcomes at one year

BackgroundWeight loss response to sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is variable and predicting the effectiveness of surgery is challenging and elusive. The aim of our study was to assess and quantify the association between eating control and weight loss outcomes and identify the control of eating (CoE) attributes during the early postoperative period that might predict good vs. poor response to SG at one year. MethodsA prospective longitudinal cohort study using the Control of Eating Questionnaire (CoEQ) was designed as a series before and at 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-SG. Primary outcomes were changes in CoE attributes and percent of total weight loss (%TWL) 12-months post-surgery. Subjects were categorized based on %TWL as good (GR, ≥25 %) or poor responders (PR, <25 %). A receiver operating characteristic and logistic regression analyses were performed. ResultsWe included 41 participants (80.5% females, 51.2% Hispanic, mean age 41.7±10.6, median baseline body mass index (BMI) 43.6 kg/m2 [range 35.2–66.3]) who completed the CoEQ at all four timepoints. The “Difficulty to control eating” score at 3 months revealed the highest area under the curve (AUC) (AUC 0.711; 95%CI 0.524–0.898; p=0.032). In a trade-off between a high Youden index and high sensitivity, the “Difficulty to control eating” score of 7 at 3 months was identified as the optimal cut-off for distinguishing between GRs and PRs. Score ≤7 at 3 months was strongly independently associated with a successful weight loss target of 25%TWL at one-year post-SG (Relative Risk 4.43; 95%CI 1.06–18.54; p=0.042). Conclusion“Difficulty to control eating” score at 3 months post-SG is an independent early predictor of optimal response (achieving a successful TWL target of ≥25 % at one-year post-SG). Our results support the utility of this easy-to-administer validated tool for predicting the effectiveness of SG and may assist in identifying individuals with suboptimal response early and helping them with interventions to attain optimal weight loss targets.

Salt sensitivity risk derived from nocturnal dipping and 24-h heart rate predicts long-term blood pressure reduction following renal denervation.

Renal denervation (RDN) has been consistently shown in recent sham-controlled clinical trials to reduce blood pressure (BP). Salt sensitivity is a critical factor in hypertension pathogenesis, but cumbersome to assess by gold-standard methodology. Twenty-four-hour average heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) dipping, taken by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), stratifies patients into high, moderate, and low salt sensitivity index (SSI) risk categories. We aimed to assess whether ABPM-derived SSI risk could predict the systolic blood pressure reduction at long-term follow-up in a real-world RDN patient cohort. Sixty participants had repeat ABPM as part of a renal denervation long-term follow-up. Average time since RDN was 8.9 ± 1.2 years. Based on baseline ABPM, participants were stratified into low (HR < 70 bpm and MAP dipping > 10%), moderate (HR ≥70 bpm or MAP dipping ≤ 10%), and high (HR ≥ 70 bpm and MAP dipping ≤ 10%) SSI risk groups, respectively. One-way ANOVA indicated a significant treatment effect ( P = 0.03) between low ( n = 15), moderate ( n = 35), and high ( n = 10) SSI risk with systolic BP reduction of 9.6 ± 3.7 mmHg, 8.4 ± 3.5 mmHg, and 28.2 ± 9.6 mmHg, respectively. Baseline BP was not significantly different between SSI Risk groups ( P = 0.18). High SSI risk independently correlated with systolic BP reduction ( P = 0.02). Our investigation indicates that SSI risk may be a simple and accessible measure for predicting the BP response to RDN. However, the influence of pharmacological therapy on these participants is an important extraneous variable requiring testing in prospective or drug naive RDN cohorts.

Enhancing Smart City Waste Management through LBBOA based RIAN Classification

Effective trash management has become a top environmental priority, especially in urban areas with significant population growth where garbage output is on the rise. As cities work to manage garbage properly, innovative waste management programmes have the potential to increase effectiveness, cut costs, and improve the aesthetic appeal of public places. This article introduces SCM-RIAN, a powerful "Smart City Management and Classification System" built on the Internet of Things (IoT) and deep learning (DL) technologies. Convolutional neural networks are used in the garbage classification model that is implemented within this smart city management and classification framework. This system for classifying waste is intended to categorise rubbish into several classes at waste collection sites, encouraging recycling. The Rotation-Invariant Attention Network (RIAN) is a unique approach presented for the categorization process to address a prevalent problem in smart city management (SCM). A Centre Spectral Attention (CSpeA) module built within RIAN isolates spectral bands from other categories of pixels' influence, reducing redundancy. As an alternative to the conventional 3 3 convolution, to obtain rotation-invariant spectral-spatial data contained in SCM patches, the Rectified Spatial Attention (RSpaA) module is also introduced. The suggested RIAN for SCM classification is built on the integration of the CSpeA, 11 convolution, and RSpaA modules. The Ladybird Beetle Optimisation Algorithm (LBBOA) is used to optimise hyperparameters. With improved results compared to other current models, this suggested SCM-RIAN achieved 98.12% accuracy (ACC) with high sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPEC), and kappa index (KI) using the garbage classification dataset.

Global Sensitivity of Penman–Monteith Reference Evapotranspiration to Climatic Variables in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Understanding how climatic variables impact the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is essential for water resource management, especially considering potential fluctuations due to climate change. Therefore, we used the Sobol’ method to analyze the spatiotemporal variations of Penman–Monteith ETo sensitivity to the climatic variables: downward solar radiation, relative humidity, maximum and minimum air temperature, and wind speed. The Sobol’ indices variances were estimated by Monte Carlo integration, with sample limits set to the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles of the daily data of 33 automatic weather stations located in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The results of the Sobol’ analysis indicate considerable spatiotemporal variations in the sensitivity of ETo to climatic variables and their interactions. The dominant climatic variable responsible for ETo fluctuations in Mato Grosso is incident solar radiation (53% to 93% of annual total sensitivity—Stot), which has a more significant impact in humid environments (70% to 90% of Stot), as observed in the areas of the Amazon biome in the state. Air relative humidity and wind speed have higher sensitivity indices during the dry season in the Cerrado biome (savanna) areas in Mato Grosso (20% and 30% of the Stot, respectively). Our findings show that changes in solar radiation, relative humidity, and wind speed are the main driving forces that impact the reference evapotranspiration.

A seafloor sensitivity index to oil spills in tropical marine protected areas

Oil spills are a global environmental challenge with ecological impacts at local and regional scales. In 2019, a major oil spill from an unknown source reached the Brazilian margin and strongly affected tropical marine habitats with high biodiversity. It is therefore important to establish a quick and accessible approach to assist decision-makers for oil spill responses. Based on current Brazilian legislation, only very specific companies (such as organized ports, port facilities, platforms and their auxiliary facilities) are obliged to maintain marine oil spill response structures. This paper aims to develop an approach for mapping seafloor sensitivity to oil spills for continental shelf areas with limited resources and materials. The study was conducted using a pre-existing bathymetric dataset, at mega- and meso-habitat scales. The assessed area extends over 933 km2, between the 10 and 90 m isobaths, comprising tropical marine areas of intense maritime traffic due to the strategic location for important international routes and also due to the presence of ports, terminals and shipyards. From the megahabitat-scale analyses (30 m resolution grid), the areas with greatest topographic complexity were selected for subsequent detailed analysis and the development of a seafloor sensitivity index at a mesohabitat-scale (10 m resolution grid). The results revealed that 12.7% of the area was classified at a high seafloor sensitivity index (SIseafloor), 28.7% was classified at relatively moderate sensitivity, and 58% was classified at low sensitivity. The seafloor sensitivity methodology presented here can be easily applied to other locations to prepare recovery operations, monitoring plans, and for other forms of environmental planning.

Climate change vulnerability and poverty nexus: evidence from coastal communities in central Vietnam

The vulnerability assessment of small-scale households on the central coast of Vietnam has been inadequate despite the apparent impacts of climate change. This knowledge gap presents challenges for identifying at-risk individuals and communities and could impede effective public policy and resource allocation for adaptation efforts. To address this issue, this study employed the Livelihood Vulnerability Index referencing IPCC definitions (LVI-IPCC) framework to examine livelihood vulnerability and its determinants among 455 small-scale households in the coastal areas of Phu Vang district, Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam. The LVI-IPCC calculation utilized a database of 11 major and 33 sub-indicators collected through a household survey conducted in 2021. The findings revealed that these households exhibit moderate vulnerability to natural disasters and climate shocks, as reflected by their high sensitivity index scores. Additionally, the study identified a persistent cycle of poverty and livelihood vulnerability among coastal communities, wherein poverty and reliance on nature-based income serve as the root cause of the exposure and a gateway to this loop. This study strongly advocates for a pro-poor approach that places poverty alleviation at the forefront of community development planning and climate change agendas. Under this approach, developing value chain models in agriculture and aquaculture and diversifying livelihoods through activities such as community-based tourism is highly recommended.

Establishing a soil quality index to evaluate soil quality after afforestation in a karst region of Southwest China

The improvement of soil quality (SQ) evaluation tools can contribute to more precise and efficient monitoring of SQ changes under different management practices. This study aimed to establish an effective and accurate soil quality index (SQI) using different indicator selecting methods (MDS, minimum data set; RMDS, revised minimum data set) and different weighted additive approaches (variance and communality weighted) to assess the effect of the conversion of farmland (FL) to three land use types (BA, bamboo forest; LAT, landscape tree planting; ORO, orange orchard) converted from similar farmland on SQ in a karst region of Southwest China. Six physical indicators, nine chemical indicators and seven biological indicators were measured at the 0–20 cm depth as potential SQ indicators. Four chemical indicators, including the very labile carbon fraction (LCF), macroaggregate-associated organic carbon, total potassium (TK) and available phosphorus, were identified as the MDS using principal component analysis. However, one physical indicator (sand), two chemical indicators (LCF and TK) and one biological indicator (bacterial Shannon diversity index) were retained in the RMDS. The average sensitivity index value of the SQIs calculated using the RMDS was 39.54% higher than that of the SQIs determined using the MDS. The range (max.-min.) of weighting values calculated by variance (0.55 and 0.10 for the MDS and RMDS, respectively) among the chosen soil indicators was greater than that calculated by communality (0.07 and 0.02 for the MDS and RMDS, respectively). The high sensitivity index value and great range of weighting values indicated that the SQI calculated by the RMDS and variance weighted exhibited better performance and discrimination in the evaluation of SQ than other SQIs. The SQI value under BA was the highest, followed by that under ORO and FL, and LAT had the lowest SQI value. In conclusion, land use changes significantly alter the SQ in Southwest China, and the SQI developed using the RMDS approach and the variance weighted method is recommended as a sensitive and effective tool for SQ evaluation under different land uses in Southwest China and other regions.

Evaluation of Satellite Precipitation Products for Estimation of Floods in Data-Scarce Environment

Utilization of satellite precipitation products (SPPs) for reliable flood modeling has become a necessity due to the scarcity of conventional gauging systems. Three high-resolution SPPs, i.e., Integrated Multi-satellite Retrieval for GPM (IMERG), Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP), and Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS), data were assessed statistically and hydrologically in the sparsely gauged Chenab River basin of Pakistan. The consistency of rain gauge data was assessed by the double mass curve (DMC). The statistical metrics applied were probability of detection (POD), critical success index (CSI), false alarm ratio (FAR), correlation coefficient (CC), root mean square error (RMSE), and bias (B). The hydrologic evaluation was conducted with calibration and validation scenarios for the monsoon flooding season using the Integrated Flood Analysis System (IFAS) and flow duration curve (FDC). Sensitivity analysis was conducted using ±20% calibrating parameters. The rain gauge data have been found to be consistent with the higher coefficient of determination (R2). The mean skill scores of GSMaP were superior to those of CHIRPS and IMERG. More bias was observed during the monsoon than during western disturbances. The most sensitive parameter was the base flow coefficient (AGD), with a high mean absolute sensitivity index value. During model calibration, good values of performance indicators, i.e., R2, Nash−Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), and percentage bias (PBIAS), were found for the used SPPs. For validation, GSMaP performed better with comparatively higher values of R2 and NSE and a lower value of PBIAS. The FDC exhibited SPPs’ excellent performance during 20% to 40% exceedance time.

PS-C28-9: AMBULATORY BP DERIVED SALT SENSITIVITY INDEX AS A PREDICTOR OF THE BP RESPONSE TO RENAL DENERVATION

Objective: Renal denervation (RDN) has been consistently shown in recent sham-controlled clinical trials to reduce clinic and ambulatory blood pressure (BP). Salt sensitivity is a critical factor in hypertension pathogenesis and severity, but cumbersome to assess by gold-standard methodology. 24-hour average heart rate and mean arterial pressure dipping, taken by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), can stratify patients into high, moderate and low salt sensitivity index (SSI) risk categories. Here we aimed to assess whether ABPM-derived SSI risk could predict the systolic blood pressure reduction at long-term follow-up in a real-world cohort of RDN patients. Design and Methods: 60 participants (70.0 ± 10.3 years, 76.3% male) had repeat ABPM assessment as part of a renal denervation long-term follow and compared to their pre-RDN baseline for calculating systolic BP changes. Average time since RDN was 8.7 years ± 1.09 years. Participants were stratified into low, moderate and high SSI Risk groups, respectively. MAP dipping less than 10% and heart rate (HR) greater than 70 indicated high-risk, MAP dipping greater than 10% and HR less than 70 indicated low risk. Remaining participants were classified as moderate risk. Systolic BP changes in risk groups were compared by One-way ANOVA. Multiple regression was computed for systolic BP response, baseline SBP and High SSI Risk status. Results: One-way ANOVA indicated a significant treatment effect (p = 0.03) between low, moderate and high salt-sensitivity index risk calculated by ABPM measures with systolic BP reduction of 9.64 ± 3.74 mmHg, 8.41 ± 3.48 mmHg, and 28.20 ± 9.55 mmHg, respectively. Baseline SBP was not significantly different between SSI Risk groups (p = 0.18), but trended upward with increasing SSI. High SSI risk independently correlated with systolic BP reduction (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Our preliminary investigation indicates that SSI risk may serve as a simple and easily accessible measure for prediction of the BP response to RDN. However, the influence of pharmacological therapy on these participants is an important extraneous variable requiring testing in prospective or drug-naive RDN cohorts.

Development and testing of diagnostic algorithms to identify patients with acromegaly in Southern Italian claims databases

Acromegaly is a rare disease characterized by an excessive production of growth-hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1, typically resulting from a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. This study was aimed at comparing and measuring accuracy of newly and previously developed coding algorithms for the identification of acromegaly using Italian claims databases. This study was conducted between January 2015 and December 2018, using data from the claims databases of Caserta Local Health Unit (LHU) and Sicily Region in Southern Italy. To detect acromegaly cases from the general target population, four algorithms were developed using combinations of diagnostic, surgical procedure and co-payment exemption codes, pharmacy claims and specialist’s visits. Algorithm accuracy was assessed by measuring the Youden Index, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values. The percentage of positive cases for each algorithm ranged from 7.9 (95% CI 6.4–9.8) to 13.8 (95% CI 11.7–16.2) per 100,000 inhabitants in Caserta LHU and from 7.8 (95% CI 7.1–8.6) to 16.4 (95% CI 15.3–17.5) in Sicily Region. Sensitivity of the different algorithms ranged from 71.1% (95% CI 54.1–84.6%) to 84.2% (95% CI 68.8–94.0%), while specificity was always higher than 99.9%. The algorithm based on the presence of claims suggestive of acromegaly in ≥ 2 different databases (i.e., hospital discharge records, copayment exemptions registry, pharmacy claims and specialist visits registry) achieved the highest Youden Index (84.2) and the highest positive predictive value (34.8; 95% CI 28.6–41.6). We tested four algorithms to identify acromegaly cases using claims databases with high sensitivity and Youden Index. Despite identifying rare diseases using real-world data is challenging, this study showed that robust validity testing may yield the identification of accurate coding algorithms.

Sensitivity and specificity of clinical diagnosis of Graves’ disease and non-Graves’ disorders compared to serum TSH receptor antibodies

Background and objective: Sensitivity and specificity of clinical diagnosis of different hyperthyroid conditions were studied and compared with serum thyrotropin receptor antibodies test, as a standard test for diagnosing Graves' disease. This study aimed to assess the degree of sensitivity and specificity of clinical diagnosis of hyperthyroid conditions compared to the thyrotropin receptor antibodies test, which was selected as a standard test for diagnosis of Graves’ disease in the study. Methods: We studied patients presenting to endocrine outpatient clinics and other outpatient settings in Erbil city, presenting with clinical features of thyrotoxicosis. Serum or plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone, free T4, and thyrotropin receptor antibodies measurements were done for all the patients. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroid ultrasonography were done for most patients. Radioactive thyroid uptake was available for a limited number of patients. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and accuracy index of clinical diagnosis of the thyrotoxicosis cases were calculated. Results: A total of 150 patients were included in our study, female 102, males 48, mean age 38 (range 16-78) years, pretest diagnosis of (Graves’ disease N=58, and non-Graves’ disease N=92 and posttest diagnosis of (Graves’ disease n= 59 vs. non-Graves’ disease=91). Sensitivity of 74.6%, specificity (84.60%), positive predictive value (75.9%), negative predictive value (83.7%), positive likelihood ratio (4.847), negative likelihood ratio (0.30), and accuracy index (80.7%) of the clinical diagnosis were estimated. Conclusion: The study showed that clinical diagnosis of Graves' disease and non-Graves’ disease disorders, using thorough clinical examination and primary essential investigations, has high sensitivity and specificity index. However, the serum thyrotropin receptor antibodies test remains the standard method in the differential diagnosis of Graves' disease. Other studies are needed to study ultrasound and scintigraphy compared to the thyrotropin receptor antibodies test.

The Assessment of Clay Briquettes from East of Erbil City Northern Iraq for Utilization in Various Building Applications

Assessment of clay briquettes for various building applications take into consideration, for this purpose seven clay samples by channel method collected from Injana, Mukdadiya and Bai Hassan Formations with Quaternary deposits in Bestana village, for the evaluation test purpose, 84 rectangular briquettes (1x4x8 cm) were prepared by semi-dry (8%water) pressing method (250Kg/cm²), fired at 800, 900, 1000, 1080ºC, for the evaluation tests of color, linear shrinkage, apparent porosity, water absorption, bulk density, efflorescence and modulus of rupture, and 28 cylindrical briquettes (4 cm height and diameter) were prepared for the evaluation test of compressive strength. The results showed that the color of the briquettes varied with different firing temperatures as a function of various mineralogical compositions. The dry sensitivity index measured for the studied ceramic briquettes, showed high dry sensitivity index, drying shrinkage and water content % values, due to this result they require low temperature drying for long periods by adding 7.96 to 13.54% water during briquette paste preparation. Comparing these evaluation test results with the International standard specifications for the ceramic industry No.25 (1988), 17 (1998), and C1167 (2003). This study showed the availability of using all of the studied samples in the brick industry, floor and wall tile industry, with Injana, Bai Hassan, and Quaternary deposits of Bestana village can be used in the roofing tile industry. Samples from Mukdadiyah and Bai Hassan Formations can be used as chemical resistant tiles when fired at 1080oC.

Flexible Plasmonics Using Aluminum and Copper Epitaxial Films on Mica.

We demonstrate here the growth of aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), gold (Au), and silver (Ag) epitaxial films on two-dimensional, layered muscovite mica (Mica) substrates via van der Waals (vdW) heteroepitaxy with controllable film thicknesses from a few to hundreds of nanometers. In this approach, the mica thin sheet acts as a flexible and transparent substrate for vdW heteroepitaxy, which allows for large-area formation of atomically smooth, single-crystalline, and ultrathin plasmonic metals without the issue of film dewetting. The high-quality plasmonic metal films grown on mica enable us to design and fabricate well-controlled Al and Cu plasmonic nanostructures with tunable surface plasmon resonances ranging from visible to the near-infrared spectral region. Using these films, two kinds of plasmonic device applications are reported, including (1) plasmonic sensors with high effective index sensitivities based on surface plasmon interferometers fabricated on the Al/Mica film and (2) Cu/Mica nanoslit arrays for plasmonic color filters in the visible and near-infrared regions. Furthermore, we show that the responses of plasmonic nanostructures fabricated on the Mica substrates remain unaltered under large substrate bending conditions. Therefore, the metal-on-mica vdW heteroepitaxy platform is suitable for flexible plasmonics based on their bendable properties.

Is Methylprednisolone Acetate-Related Insulin Resistance Preventable in Cats?

Methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) is often prescribed to cats despite being recognized eventually as diabetogenic. To assess MPA-related insulin resistance and evaluate the efficacy of metformin or an obesity and diabetes mellitus (O&D) adjuvant diet as protective factors, a randomized clinical trial was conducted with 28 owned cats undergoing glucocorticoid therapy. A single MPA dose of 20 mg intramuscularly was administered to each cat. Controls (n = 10) received only MPA. In the diet group (n = 9), replacement of their habitual diet by ad-libitum feeding of a feline commercial O&D diet (Equilíbrio O&D, Total Alimentos ADM) was made. In the metformin group (n = 9), metformin chlorhydrate 25mg/cat PO/q24h was administered for 30 days. All patients were clinically evaluated at baseline (T0), day 15 (T15), and day 30 (T30) and blood draw for complete blood count, serum biochemistry, and determination of insulin concentrations. Fasting Insulin Sensitivity Index (SI), Amended Insulin to Glucose Ratio (AIGR), Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and Homeostatic Model Assessment of beta-cell function (HOMA-B) were calculated based on fasting glycemia and insulinemia. All groups showed significantly higher levels (P < .05) of neutrophils, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and serum insulin at T15. Patients in the metformin group showed also higher SI, AIGR, and HOMA-IR results at T15. Also, at T15, reduced levels (P < .05) of eosinophils, lymphocytes, and creatinine were documented in all groups. An MPA single dose induced changes in insulin sensitivity in cats; however, neither metformin nor O&D feeding used in this study was effective as protective factors against MPA-related insulin resistance.

An Impact study of highway design on casualty and non-casualty traffic accidents

Background Road Safety has become a worldwide concern due to the alarming repercussions road accidents may bear. This study examined the relationship between different geometric design elements and the accident rates on Rashid Bin Saeed Street, Arabian Gulf Street, and Sultan Bin Zayed Street in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.Methods The geometric design was collected from the satellite images of google earth in compliance with the standard geometric design manual of Abu Dhabi roads. The recorded geometric data consisted of the number of lanes, lane widths, median length, and width. The traffic volume data was provided by the Integrated Transport Center of Abu Dhabi, which was then converted into Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) for analytical purposes. For the studied roads, AADT ranges ranged between 26,509 and 121,890 vehicles per day. The crash data related to the period of 2012–2019 was collected from the online open-access data provided by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Interior. The data provided had considered variables related to driver gender, age and speed, travel direction, and time of the day amongst other factors. A comprehensive statistical analysis was conducted to study the impact of geometric design elements on road safety through a stable distribution. Stable distributions are generally characterized by four parameters and expressed as X∼S(α,β,σ,μ). The statistical model included several graphical representations such as accident frequency at two levels of severity, casualty and non-casualty accidents for different road segments, traffic volumes, day of the week, age of the injured person, and the geometric design parameters on the three roads. Variance-based methods of sensitivity analysis are also used that are a class of probabilistic approaches that quantify the input and output uncertainties as probability distributions and decompose the output variance into parts attributable to input variables and combinations of variables. The sensitivity of the output to an input variable is therefore measured by the amount of variance in the output caused by that input.Findings The results showed that the accident profiles differ with varying segments on each road, revealing some segments to be of higher accident rates than others. Also, a higher accident frequency was shown with young adult drivers, and a high majority of accidents had occurred on weekends. Regarding the road's geometric design, which is the focus of this study, a sensitivity analysis was made to determine the most influential geometric design element on accident frequency.Interpretation The number of lanes had the highest sensitivity index followed by the median width, and then came the lane width. Thus, modifying the number of lanes on a highway is anticipated to have the highest impact on accident frequency and road safety than any other geometric parameter.

The reversible tinnitus and cochleopathy followed first-dose AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination.

The current case was the first report demonstrating a single case presenting with sudden-onset tinnitus and cochleopathy after his first dosage of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Audiometry revealed an abnormally high short increment sensitivity index. His tinnitus/cochleopathy was reversible and recoverable under conservative steroid management. The abnormality of the high short increment sensitivity index returned to the normal range after steroid management. This case report aimed to increase the cautionary awareness of clinicians concerning the potential adverse events of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and the new onset of tinnitus/cochleopathy. In addition, immediate treatment is recommended for managing these patients after the onset of tinnitus/cochleopathy. Furthermore, due to the fact that the adverse event of new-onset tinnitus was reversible and recoverable, we still strongly recommend the continuation of the administration of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, based on its merits and demerits.