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Grape processing generates large amounts of by-products, including seeds rich in hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that subjecting grape seeds to a single ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with aqueous ethanolic solutions yields both flavan-3-ols and tocochromanols in the final extract. Notably, the water content in ethanol significantly influences the extractability of tocochromanols more than flavan-3-ols. Solid-to-solvent ratios of 1:50 to 1:2 were tested for both analytical and industrial applications. A sustainable analytical approach for recovering flavan-3-ols and tocochromanols using 60% and 96.4% ethanol extractions was validated and employed to profile nineteen genotypes of lesser-studied interspecific grape crosses (Vitis spp.). Different genotypes showed a wide range of concentrations of tocopherols (1.6-6.3 mg/100 g), tocotrienols (1.0-17.4 mg/100 g), and flavan-3-ols (861-9994 mg/100 g). This indicated that the genetic background and maturity of the plant material are crucial factors from an industrial perspective due to the initial concentration of bioactive compounds. Finally, the study also discussed the fundamental aspects of hydrophobic antioxidant extractability from the lipid matrix with aqueous ethanol solutions and the limitations of the workflow, such as the non-extractable tocochromanols and their esters and the losses of these lipophilic antioxidants during extraction.

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Flavonoides , Semillas , Vitis , Vitis/química , Semillas/química , Flavonoides/aislamiento & purificación , Flavonoides/química , Flavonoides/análisis , Antioxidantes/química , Antioxidantes/aislamiento & purificación , Extractos Vegetales/química , Extractos Vegetales/aislamiento & purificación , Tocoferoles/aislamiento & purificación , Tocoferoles/química , Tocoferoles/análisis , Tocotrienoles/análisis , Tocotrienoles/aislamiento & purificación , Tocotrienoles/química

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ABSTRACT A patient presented with corneoscleral thinning five months after the treatment of suspected ocular squamous surface neoplasia with mitomycin-C and interferon. For tectonic and aesthetic purposes, we decided to perform lamellar corneoscleral transplantation. The approach used established new tectonic support and corneal homeostasis. This technique might be an option in similar cases.

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Understanding the factors that influence nitrite degradation in whole blood and developing methods for its stable preservation are crucial for ensuring accurate and reliable forensic identification in cases of nitrite poisoning. This study systematically monitored nitrite degradation and changes in hemoglobin proportions across different initial nitrite concentrations and blood samples. It was revealed that high nitrite concentrations rapidly reduced deoxyhemoglobin levels within the first 15 minutes and subsequently reacted with oxyhemoglobin at a slower rate. Therefore, the proportions of these two hemoglobin forms are key factors in determining nitrite degradation rates. Regarding preservation, the study examined the effects of low temperatures (4°C and -20°C) and various preservatives (potassium ferricyanide, N-ethylmaleimide) on nitrite stability. The results indicate that adding 6.6 g/L potassium ferricyanide can rapidly eliminate all deoxyhemoglobin and reduce oxyhemoglobin proportions to below 60 %, enabling stable preservation of high nitrite concentrations in whole blood for over 30 days at -20°C. The efficacy of potassium ferricyanide was further validated in forensic-acquired postmortem heart blood samples.

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Yearly thousands of tons of cellulose, in the form of toilet paper, end up in the wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) through the sewage. Cellulose was recovered with a 0.35 mm sieve and processed obtaining three different pellets: pure cellulose, straw mix (50 % cellulose-50 % straw) and wood mix (50 % cellulose-50 % wood). Those materials were carbonized at 750 °C for 210 min producing non-activated biochar. Then, a part of those biochars was biologically activated by fermentation adding minerals, nutrients and a mixture of bacteria. All biochar versions were characterized, assessing the surface, porosity and adsorption capacity for a dye (indigo carmine) and a selection of 5 micropollutants (MPs): benzotriazole, carbamazepine, clarithromycin, DEET, and diclofenac. However, results showed that conventional analysis for adsorbents was not adequate for biologically activated materials since biofilm can obstruct the pores of the supporting material hindering the pollutants' adsorption. Therefore, the biological degradation of the pollutants by the microorganisms was also tested. Finally, biologically activated WOW-Biochar straw mix was the selected material to be further applied in constructed wetlands (CW) due to its higher average MPs removal capacity. Validation test at mesocosms scale demonstrates the suitability of the material as an admixture in CW, reaching a MPs removal rate higher than the 90 % regarding the WWTP inlet.

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Cotton swabs are one of the most effective methods of retrieving biological evidence. The efficiency of swab-based DNA recovery is impacted by many factors, such as the swabbing technique, source of DNA and volume and type of wetting solution used to moisten the swab head. This study aimed to evaluate a series of different swab-moistening solutions. The types of swabbing solutions included buffers, detergent-based solutions, and chelating agents. The DNA deposits, including cell-free DNA, cellular DNA, blood, and saliva, were collected from three non-porous surfaces: plastic, glass, and metal. The difference in the performance of the swab-wetting solutions was heavily influenced by the type of biological fluid, with the chelating agents, EGTA and EDTA, being the most suitable for recovering DNA from saliva and blood samples. Conversely, water and detergent-based solutions were more appropriate for cell-free and cellular DNA material likely to be found in trace DNA deposits.

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The article examines sequential fractional-order differential equations composed of monomial coefficients defined as nonlinear boundary problems. The original problem is converted into an integral equation in an equivalent form. The contraction mapping principle and Krasnoselskii's fixed-point theorem are implemented to obtain two existence conditions. The problem of Ulam-Hyers stability is also investigated. An illustration is presented to showcase practical application of the obtained results.

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In this article, we explore exact solitary wave solutions to the van der Waals equation which is crucial for numerous applications involving a variety of physical occurrences. This system is used to define the behavior of real gases taking into consideration finite size of molecules and also has some applications in industry for granular materials. The model is studied under the effect of fractional derivatives by employing two different definitions: ß , and M-truncated. Further, new extended direct algebraic method is employed to construct the solitary wave solutions for the model. The solutions transmit several novel solutions, such as dark-singular, dark-bright, singular-periodic and dark solutions, and this method establishes the conditions required for the formation of these structures. To show the comparative analysis between two different fractional operators, results are graphically represented in the form of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional visualizations.

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PURPOSE: Evaluate safety and efficacy of 0.75% phentolamine ophthalmic solution (POS), an alpha-1 antagonist, in reversal of pharmacologically induced mydriasis. DESIGN: Two Phase 3, multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-masked clinical trials in healthy subjects. SUBJECTS: 553 healthy 12 to 80 year old subjects were randomized 1:1 (MIRA-2) and 2:1 (MIRA-3) to receive either POS or placebo eye drops OU. METHODS: Subjects received POS or placebo administered 1 hour after mydriasis, induced by instillation of either 2.5% phenylephrine, 1% tropicamide, or Paremyd (1% hydroxyamphetamine / 0.25% tropicamide). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary endpoint was percent of subjects returning to ≤0.2 mm greater than baseline pupil diameter in study eye at 90 minutes after POS administration. Safety measures included treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and tolerability measures, including conjunctival hyperemia. RESULTS: In MIRA-2, 185 subjects were randomized to treatment with placebo (94) or POS (91). In MIRA-3, 368 subjects were randomized to treatment with placebo (124) or POS (244). A statistically significant greater percentage of subjects treated with POS had study eyes that showed reversal of mydriasis at 90 minutes (primary endpoint) compared with the placebo treatment (48.9% vs 6.6% for MIRA-2; p<0.0001 and 58% VS 6% for MIRA-3; p<0.0001) and as early as 60 minutes (24.5% vs 5.5% for MIRA-2; p<0.0003 and 42% VS 2% for MIRA-3; p<0.0001). Between 28 to 34% of placebo-treated subjects had not returned to baseline PD at 24 hours following pharmacological dilation compared to 8 to 11% treated with POS (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: POS treatment had a rapid onset in reducing PD within 60- to 90-minutes, with a statistically significant time savings of 3 to 4 hours to return to baseline PD compared to placebo. One or 2 drops of POS rapidly reversed mydriasis in all subjects regardless of mydriatic agent or iris color. More subjects receiving POS reported a perceived benefit in the resolution of visual symptoms caused by pharmacologically induced mydriasis compared to placebo, with statistically significant differences noted as early as 1 hour. The safety profile was favorable, with the most common adverse effects being mild transient conjunctival hyperemia (11.2%), instillation site discomfort (10.9%), and dysgeusia (3.6%).

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BACKGROUND: Shallow, tropical coral reefs face compounding threats from climate change, habitat degradation due to coastal development and pollution, impacts from storms and sea-level rise, and pulse disturbances like blast fishing, mining, dredging, and ship groundings that reduce reef height and complexity. One approach toward restoring coral reef physical structure from such impacts is deploying built structures of artificial, natural, or hybrid (both artificial and natural) origin. Built structures range from designed modules and repurposed materials to underwater sculptures and intentionally placed natural rocks. Restoration practitioners and coastal managers increasingly consider incorporating - and in many cases have already begun to incorporate - built structures into coral reef-related applications, yet synthesized evidence on the ecological (coral-related; e.g., coral growth, coral survival) and physical performance of built structures in coral ecosystems across a variety of contexts (e.g., restoration, coastal protection, mitigation, tourism) is not readily available to guide decisions. To help fill this gap and inform management decisions, we systematically mapped the global distribution and abundance of published evidence on the ecological (coral-related) and physical performance of built structure interventions in shallow (≤ 30 m), tropical (35°N to 35°S) coral ecosystems. METHODS: To identify potentially relevant articles, we used predefined and tested strategies to search two indexing platforms, one bibliographic database, two open discovery citation indexes, one web-based search engine, one novel literature discovery tool, 19 organizational websites, and information requested from stakeholders. Discovered articles were screened according to preset eligibility criteria first by title and abstract and second by full text. Articles included during full text screening were coded to extract metadata following a predefined framework. We analyzed and visualized the evidence base to answer our primary and secondary research questions and to identify knowledge clusters and gaps. Findings are reported in a narrative synthesis. RESULTS: Our search discovered > 20,000 potentially relevant unique articles, of which 258 were included in the systematic map. The evidence base spans 50 countries, and the volume of evidence increased over the past five decades. Built structures were most commonly installed for coral restoration (61%) or coastal protection (12%). Structures were predominately characterized as artificial (87%), with fewer hybrid or natural interventions. Evidence clusters existed for intentionally designed artificial structures and outcomes associated with coral-related ecological performance, including coral mortality, growth, recruitment, cover, and diversity. Pronounced evidence gaps occurred at the intersection of several ecological coral-related performance outcomes (e.g., connectivity, microbiome) across all types of built structures; gaps also existed across most ecological coral-related outcomes for artwork and repurposed artificial structures. Physical performance of built structures was most frequently evaluated for outcomes related to waves (n = 14) and sediment and morphology (n = 11) with pervasive evidence gaps across other outcomes like storm surge and water level. CONCLUSIONS: While the systematic map highlighted several evidence clusters, it also revealed pronounced evidence gaps surrounding the coral-related ecological and physical performance of built structures in coral ecosystems. The compiled evidence base will help inform policy, management, and future consideration of built structures in reef-related applications, including habitat restoration, environmental mitigation, and coastal protection. Map findings also point to promising future research avenues, such as investigating seascape-scale ecological effects of and the physical performance of built structures.

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The mental health burden in India is increasing at unprecedented rates. The increased demand for mental health care and the undersupply of services has widened the treatment gap. Due to several factors, such as increasing service costs and the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, India has witnessed an inclination toward using digital mental health solutions to overcome the treatment gap. Drawing from the collective evidence and experience in implementing mental health solutions using digital phenotyping and smartphone app-based care delivery in India, we define the scope, potential, and challenges of implementing synchronous and asynchronous digital mental health solutions that can serve as a template for improving global mental health.

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PURPOSE: To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of inflator-monitored balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (ImBRTO) in detecting balloon rupture and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ImBRTO in treating gastric varices. METHODS: Between June 2018 and June 2024, 31 consecutive patients (age: 61.7 ± 12.4 years; male 20, female 11) underwent ImBRTO for gastric varices. An occlusion balloon was inflated with an inflation device to monitor for balloon rupture during sclerosing, maintaining the balloon inflation for at least 3 h. RESULTS: The technical success rate was 100%. The incidence of balloon rupture was 6.5% (2/31), both diagnosed by a pressure drop in the inflation device. In one of the two patients, catheter replacement and an additional injection of a sclerosing agent were required due to early balloon rupture (< 3 h). Clinical success and complete elimination of gastric varices were achieved in all cases. No procedure-related complications were observed. There were no cases of recurrent variceal bleeding at the end of the follow-up (median: 5.2 months). CONCLUSION: ImBRTO proves to be an effective and safe technique for treating gastric varices. The real-time monitoring of balloon integrity allows for timely decisions, resulting in excellent clinical outcomes.

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CONTEXT: Revealing the mechanism of intermolecular interactions in dinitroamine ammonium (ADN)-based liquid propellants and exploring the reasons for their performance changes, multi-perspective interaction analyses of ADN and ADN-water (H2O)-methanol (CH3OH) solutions have been conducted via theoretical methods. The band structure, density of states (DOS), surface electrostatic potential (ESP), Hirshfeld surface, reduced density gradient (RDG), AIM topological analysis, and detonation performance were studied and the results showed that both the ADN and ADN-H2O-CH3OH solutions had hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions. By introducing the small molecules H2O and CH3OH, the detonation performance of the ADN-H2O-CH3OH solution slightly decreased, but its sensitivity also decreased. Overall, the comprehensive performance of the ADN-H2O-CH3OH solution has improved, and the application range has expanded. These results are helpful for obtaining a deeper understanding of ADN-based liquid propellants at the atomic level and contribute to the development of new liquid propellants. METHODS: The ADN and ADN-H2O-CH3OH solutions were constructed by Amorphous cell module and optimized via GGA with PBE methods in the Dmol3 module of the Materials Studio, and their electronic properties were calculated. Hirshfeld surfaces were generated with CrystalExplorer 3.0. A topological analysis of a variety of molecular clusters was performed via QTAIM. The QTAIM and RDG analyses in this work were generated by Multiwfn 3.0.

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Liver transplantation remains the only definitive treatment for end-stage liver diseases. However, the increasing prevalence of fatty liver disease among potential donors exacerbates the shortage of suitable organs. This study evaluates the efficacy of the preservation solution Institut Georges Lopez-2 (IGL-2) compared to Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate (HTK) and University of Wisconsin (UW) preservation solutions in mitigating ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in steatotic livers. Using Zucker Obese rat livers, we assessed the impact of 24-h static cold storage (SCS) with each solution on transaminase release, glutathione redox balance, antioxidant enzyme activity, lipoperoxidation, and inflammation markers. IGL-2 and UW solutions demonstrated reduced transaminase and lactate levels compared to HTK, indicating better preservation of liver integrity. IGL-2 maintained a higher reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio, suggesting more effective management of oxidative stress. Antioxidant enzyme activities catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase (CAT, SOD, GPX) were higher in IGL-2 preserved livers, contributing to decreased oxidative damage. Lipid peroxidation markers and inflammatory markers were lower in IGL-2 than in HTK, indicating reduced oxidative stress and inflammation. Additionally, improved mitochondrial function was observed in the IGL-2 group, correlating with reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lipid peroxidation. These findings suggest that IGL-2 offers superior preservation of liver viability, reduces oxidative stress, and minimizes inflammation compared to HTK and UW solutions. By maintaining a higher ratio of reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzyme activity, IGL-2 effectively mitigates the harmful effects of ischemia-reperfusion injury. The reduced lipid peroxidation and inflammation in the IGL-2 group further underscore its potential in improving liver transplant outcomes. These results highlight the importance of optimizing preservation solutions to enhance the viability and functionality of donor organs, potentially expanding the donor pool and improving the success rates of liver transplantation. Future research should focus on refining preservation techniques and exploring additional protective agents to further improve organ preservation and transplant outcomes.

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Adenosina , Alopurinol , Antioxidantes , Hígado Graso , Insulina , Hígado , Soluciones Preservantes de Órganos , Procaína , Rafinosa , Ratas Zucker , Daño por Reperfusión , Animales , Soluciones Preservantes de Órganos/farmacología , Ratas , Rafinosa/farmacología , Insulina/metabolismo , Adenosina/metabolismo , Adenosina/farmacología , Hígado Graso/metabolismo , Hígado Graso/tratamiento farmacológico , Hígado Graso/patología , Daño por Reperfusión/metabolismo , Daño por Reperfusión/tratamiento farmacológico , Daño por Reperfusión/prevención & control , Antioxidantes/farmacología , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Hígado/metabolismo , Hígado/efectos de los fármacos , Hígado/patología , Alopurinol/farmacología , Masculino , Procaína/farmacología , Inflamación/metabolismo , Inflamación/patología , Inflamación/tratamiento farmacológico , Glucosa/metabolismo , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , Glutatión/metabolismo , Peroxidación de Lípido/efectos de los fármacos , Manitol/farmacología , Isquemia Fría/efectos adversos , Cloruro de Potasio/farmacología , Preservación de Órganos/métodos , Trasplante de Hígado/métodos

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The progress in polymer science and nanotechnology yields new colloidal and macromolecular objects and their combinations, which can be defined as complex polymer materials. The complexity may include a complicated composition and architecture of macromolecular chains, specific intermolecular interactions, an unusual phase behavior, and a structure of a multi-component polymer-containing material. Determination of a relation between the structure of a complex material, the structure and properties of its constituent elements, and the rheological properties of the material as a whole is the subject of structural rheology-a valuable tool for the development and study of novel materials. This work summarizes the author's structural-rheological studies of complex polymer materials for determining the conditions and rheo-manifestations of their micro- and nanostructuring. The complicated chemical composition of macromolecular chains and its role in polymer structuring via block segregation and cooperative hydrogen bonds in melt and solutions is considered using tri- and multiblock styrene/isoprene and vinyl acetate/vinyl alcohol copolymers. Specific molecular interactions are analyzed in solutions of cellulose; its acetate butyrate; a gelatin/carrageenan combination; and different acrylonitrile, oxadiazole, and benzimidazole copolymers. A homogeneous structuring may result from a conformational transition, a mesophase formation, or a macromolecular association caused by a complex chain composition or specific inter- and supramolecular interactions, which, however, may be masked by macromolecular entanglements when determining a rheological behavior. A heterogeneous structure formation implies a microscopic phase separation upon non-solvent addition, temperature change, or intense shear up to a macroscopic decomposition. Specific polymer/particle interactions have been examined using polyethylene oxide solutions, polyisobutylene melts, and cellulose gels containing solid particles of different nature, demonstrating the competition of macromolecular entanglements, interparticle interactions, and adsorption polymer/particle bonds in governing the rheological properties. Complex chain architecture has been considered using long-chain branched polybutylene-adipate-terephthalate and polyethylene melts, cross-linked sodium hyaluronate hydrogels, asphaltene solutions, and linear/highly-branched polydimethylsiloxane blends, showing that branching raises the viscosity and elasticity and can result in limited miscibility with linear isomonomer chains. Finally, some examples of composite adhesives, membranes, and greases as structured polymeric functional materials have been presented with the demonstration of the relation between their rheological and performance properties.

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This work presents the results of studying dilute aqueous solutions of commercial Ln(NO3)3 · xH2O salts with Ln = Ce-Lu using X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS: EXAFS/XANES), and pH measurements. As a reference point, XRD and XAS measurements for characterized Ln(NO3)3 · xH2O microcrystalline powder samples were performed. The local structure of Ln-nitrate complexes in 20 mM Ln(NO3)3 · xH2O aqueous solution was studied under total external reflection conditions and EXAFS geometry was applied to obtain high-quality EXAFS data for solutions with low concentrations of Ln3+ ions. Results obtained by EXAFS spectroscopy showed significant contraction of the first coordination sphere during the dissolution process for metal ions located in the middle of the lanthanide series. It was established that in Ln(NO3)3 · xH2O solutions with Ln = Ce, Sm, Gd, Yb (c = 134, 100, 50 and 20 mM) there are coordinated and, to a greater extent, non-coordinated nitrate groups with bidentate and predominantly monodentate bonds with Ln ions, the number of which increases upon transition from cerium to ytterbium. For the first time, the antibacterial and antifungal activity of Ln(NO3)3 · xH2O Ln = Ce, Sm, Gd, Tb, Yb solutions with different concentrations and pH was presented. Cross-relationships between the concentration of solutions and antimicrobial activity with the type of Ln = Ce, Sm, Gd, Tb, Yb were established, as well as the absence of biocidal properties of solutions with a concentration of 20 mM, except for Ln = Yb. The important role of experimental conditions in obtaining and interpreting the results was noted.

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Hydrophilic and hydrophobic phenomena occur in aqueous solutions. Despite the complex nature of the molecular interactions, the propensity of molecules and ions to hydration is sometimes characterized by a single "hydration number". Passynski's method for determining the hydration numbers in dilute aqueous solutions belongs to the group of methods based on the analysis of the isentropic compressibility of a mixture. Isentropic compressibility is a thermodynamic material constant; thus, the paper deals with Passynski's approach discussed in terms of thermodynamics. First, Passynski's assumptions were applied to the volume of the mixture. Subsequent strict thermodynamic derivation led to a formula for the hydration number which resembled that of Onori rather than the original one. Passynski's number turned out to be inconsistent with the thermodynamics and mechanics of fluids. This is a rather purely empirical measure of the slope of the dependence of isentropic compressibility on the solute mole fraction in a dilute aqueous solution. Being the quotient of the slope and the isentropic compressibility of pure water, Pasynski's numbers are more convenient to analyze and discuss than the slopes themselves. Conclusions about molecular interactions based on these numbers must be treated with considerable caution.

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The conventional approach to environmental governance, based on institutions, regulations, and interventions, has failed to stop the current ecological catastrophe. I suggest a radical alternative: Ritual as the core mode of 'nature-based governance' (NBG) that enacts deep and comprehensive reciprocity between people and nature. NBG grounds governance mechanisms in embodied more-than-human practices with normative force. I build on theories of embodiment to suggest a general concept of ritual that is inspired by but generalizes over Indigenous thought and is informed by East Asian ideas about ritual as the pivot of social order. Further, the embodiment framework recognises ritual as a kind of action humans and non-humans share as living beings. Therefore, rituals can be harnessed in workable governance mechanisms to create and sustain communities of multi-species cohabitation. I distinguish between two basic types of reciprocity corresponding to two types of governance: Disembodied reciprocity enacted by conventional human-only governance schemes and embodied reciprocity enacted by NBG. Embodied reciprocity creates relationality of people and nature. Equipped with these theoretical insights, I suggest practical applications in the context of NBG of Nature-based solutions, discussing three stylized models. These are the formation of urban multi-species communities in urban gardening and urban forests, the commoning of ecosystem services of animal populations in wildfire protection, and reconceptualizing eco-compensation as a reciprocal ritual of gift-giving.

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BACKGROUND: The public health landscape in North-East India is marked by the foundational principle of equitable health care provision, a critical endeavor considering the region's intricate geography and proximity to international borders. Health care workers grapple with challenges, such as treacherous routes, limited infrastructure, and diverse cultural nuances, when delivering essential medical services. Despite improvements since the National Rural Health Mission in 2005, challenges persist, prompting a study to identify health care workers' challenges and alternative strategies in Manipur and Nagaland. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to document the challenges experienced by health care workers during service delivery in the geographically challenging terrains of North-East India. METHODS: This study is part of the i-DRONE (Indian Council of Medical Research's Drone Response and Outreach for North East) project, which aims to assess the feasibility of drone-mediated vaccine and medical delivery. This study addresses the secondary objective of the i-DRONE project. In-depth interviews of 29 health care workers were conducted using semistructured questionnaires in 5 districts (Mokokchung and Tuensang in Nagaland, and Imphal West, Bishnupur, and Churachandpur in Manipur). Nineteen health facilities, including primary health care centers, community health centers, and district hospitals, were selected. The study considered all levels of health care professionals who were in active employment for the past 6 months without a significant vacation and those who were engaged in ground-level implementation, policy, and maintenance activities. Data were recorded, transcribed, and translated, and subsequently, codes, themes, and subthemes were developed using NVivo 14 (QSR International) for thematic analysis. RESULTS: Five themes were generated from the data: (1) general challenges (challenges due to being an international borderline district, human resource constraints, logistical challenges for medical supply, infrastructural issues, and transportation challenges); (2) challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic (increased workload, lack of diagnostic centers, mental health challenges and family issues, routine health care facilities affected, stigma and fear of infection, and vaccine hesitancy and misinformation); (3) perception and awareness regarding COVID-19 vaccination; (4) alternative actions or strategies adopted by health care workers to address the challenges; and (5) suggestions provided by health care workers. Health care workers demonstrated adaptability by overcoming these challenges and provided suggestions for addressing these challenges in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Health care workers in Manipur and Nagaland have shown remarkable resilience in the face of numerous challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. Despite infrastructural limitations, communication barriers, and inadequate medical supply distribution in remote areas, they have demonstrated adaptability through innovative solutions like efficient data management, vaccination awareness campaigns, and leveraging technology for improved care delivery. The findings are pertinent for not only health care practitioners and policymakers but also the broader scientific and public health communities. However, the findings may have limited generalizability beyond Manipur and Nagaland.

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Atención a la Salud , Personal de Salud , Humanos , India , Personal de Salud/psicología , Atención a la Salud/organización & administración , Masculino , Femenino , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/prevención & control , Adulto , Investigación Cualitativa , Encuestas y Cuestionarios

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A series of solid solutions of indium and iron oxides with different In/Fe ratios (InxFeyO3, with x + y = 2) were synthesized in the form of nanoparticles with the purpose of generating semiconductors with an intermediate band gap width compared to those of In2O3 and Fe2O3. XRD analysis proved the formation of the desired InxFeyO3 solid solutions for Fe content in the range 5-25% mol. UV-Vis absorption analysis showed that the substitution of In with Fe in the crystalline structure led to the anticipated gradual decrease of the band gaps energy values compared to In2O3. The obtained materials were tested as photocatalysts for the degradation of model organic pollutants (phenol and methylene blue) in water. Among the InxFeyO3 solid solutions, In1.7Fe0.3O3 displayed the highest photocatalytic activity in the degradation of the selected probe molecules under UV and visible radiation. Remarkably, In1.7Fe0.3O3 showed a significantly enhanced activity under visible light compared to monometallic indium oxide and iron oxide. This demonstrates that our strategy consisting in engineering the band gap by tuning the composition of InxFeyO3 solid solutions was successful in improving the photocatalytic performance under visible light. Additionally, In1.7Fe0.3O3 fully retained its photocatalytic activity upon reuse in four consecutive cycles.

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Polarized Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze aqueous solutions of sodium orthophosphate and orthovanadate over a wide concentration range (0.00891-0.702 mol/L) at 23 °C. The isotropic scattering profiles were obtained by measuring polarized Raman scattering spectra. Furthermore, R-normalized spectra were calculated and presented. The tetrahedral ions, VO43-(aq) and PO43-(aq), demand four Raman active bands which have been subsequently characterized and assigned. For the PO43-(aq) ion, the deformation modes ν2(e) and ν4(f2) appear at 415 and 557 cm-1, and these modes are depolarized. In the P-O stretching region, the strongest Raman band appears at 936.5 cm-1, which is totally polarized with a depolarization ratio (ρ-value) of 0.002. The broad and depolarized mode at 1010 cm-1 constitutes the antisymmetric stretching band ν3(f2). The Raman spectrum of VO43- shows two depolarized deformation modes ν2(e) and ν4(f2) at 327 and 345.6 cm-1, which are severely overlapped. These bands are very weak. The strongest band in the Raman spectrum of VO43-(aq) is the symmetric stretching mode ν1(a1) at 820.2 cm-1 which is totally polarized with a ρ-value at 0.004. The depolarized antisymmetric stretching mode ν3(f2) appeared at 785 cm-1 as a broad and weak band. Both anions are strongly hydrated and showed extensive hydrolysis in an aqueous solution. Orthovanadate is a much stronger base than orthophosphate in aqueous solution. Therefore, a large amount of NaOH was used to suppress the hydrolysis of VO43-(aq) sufficiently, so, it was possible to characterize the VO43- modes. Quantitative Raman spectroscopy was applied to follow the hydrolysis of PO43- over a wide concentration range from 0.00891 to 0.592 mol/L. The hydrolysis data allowed the calculation of the pKa3 value for H3PO4 to be 12.330 ± 0.02 (25 °C). The hydrolysis of the VO43- ion is ∼21 times larger than that of the PO43-. The pKa3 value for H3VO4 is estimated to be 13.65 ± 0.1 (25 °C).