Theoretical and experimental study on a fast proton transport pathway in CeO-coated SrTiO through surface vacancy engineering for low-temperature ceramic fuel cells.

Overcoming the high-temperature limitations of ceramic fuel cells (CFCs) requires the development of electrolytes capable of efficient proton transport at reduced operating temperatures. In this work, we introduced a surface-engineered SrTiO electrolyte coated with 10 mol%-CeO, forming a core-shell heterostructure that promoted the formation of oxygen vacancies localized at the interface. These vacancies significantly reduced the energy barrier for proton migration, enabling enhanced ionic conductivity at low operating temperatures.

Association Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Subclinical Cardiovascular Symptoms Among Young Adults in Pakistan.

Background Vitamin D is an essential component of human health, and its effects may be felt outside of musculoskeletal development. Vitamin D deficiency is common among many individuals, including those with adequate sunlight exposure. However, evidence linking vitamin D deficiency to subclinical cardiovascular symptoms (such as mild chest discomfort, palpitations, exertional breathlessness, or fatigue) in otherwise healthy young adults is limited.

Comparative assessment of treatment outcomes of empagliflozin add-on metformin and sitagliptin add-on metformin therapies in uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus: findings from an observational study in Pakistan.

Background: Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus warrant the utilization of different combination antidiabetic therapies, however, the addition of these newer agents as add-on therapy increases the risk of side effects and needs to be further investigated in terms of their risk to benefit to the patient. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate the clinical and safety outcomes in patients taking empagliflozin and Sitagliptin in addition to metformin.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique to gather data at the Diabetes and Foot Care Clinic in Abbottabad from July 2023 to December 2023.

From scorching sands to survival: adaptive tale of the genus Tribulus (T. longipetalus, T. terrestris and T. pentandrus) in desert ecosystem.

Desertification poses a major ecological threat, demanding insights into plant adaptive strategies for survival in arid landscapes. Tribulus species, i.e.

Late Iron Age and Roman equine breeding north of the Alps: Genetic insights and cultural implications.

The Roman conquest of the northern Alpine foreland in 15 BCE introduced larger-sized horses and hybrid mules to the region. To investigate their genetic profiles and influence on local breeding, we analyzed our previously generated shallow shotgun DNA data from 402 Late Iron Age and Roman equids, supplemented with mitochondrial and nuclear capture data from 40 to 31 equids from the same regions and periods. Late Iron Age and Roman horses exhibit high matrilineal diversity, with unique haplogroups in the latter indicating exogenous animals.

Environmental DNA from peck marks shows potential for non‑invasive monitoring of woodpeckers.

Monitoring species' occurrences is essential for understanding ecosystem dynamics, tracking biodiversity changes, and guiding conservation efforts. Traditional monitoring methods, such as visual surveys, are challenging, particularly for elusive and endangered species. This proof-of-concept study explores the potential of environmental DNA (eDNA) collected from peck marks as a non-invasive tool for detecting and identifying woodpecker species.

Network intrusion detection model using wrapper based feature selection and multi head attention transformers.

Nowadays, many fields, such as healthcare, farming, factories, transportation, cities, and homes are connected via network devices. These systems are configured in open environments and are prone to malicious attacks. It is important to protect these systems from intruders and cyberattacks.

COVID-19 Induced Cholangiopathy: A Case Report.

Introduction: COVID-19, although primarily a respiratory illness, has been linked to complications in multiple organ systems, including the liver. Proposed mechanisms for liver injury include direct viral cytopathic effects, systemic inflammation, hypoxia, and drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Moreover, post-COVID cholangiopathy is an emerging entity with features that may overlap with autoimmune phenomena.

Aridity-induced structural and functional adaptations in Solanum surattense across dryland ecosystems.

Aridity is a key environmental filter that governs plant community structure by constraining species diversity, distribution, and adaptive capacity, particularly within arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Solanum surattense, a drought-resilient perennial herb, has evolved distinct morphological, anatomical, and physiological adaptations that facilitate its survival under prolonged water stress. Nevertheless, increasing anthropogenic pressure due to its high medicinal and economic value has resulted in overexploitation, leading to significant population declines and habitat fragmentation, thereby threatening its ecological sustainability and long-term persistence.

Low doping strategy in amorphous alumina: Harnessing oxygen vacancies and retaining structural disorder for advanced low-temperature ceramics fuel cell.

Amorphous alumina has emerged as a compelling candidate for ceramic fuel cells (CFCs) due to its intrinsic structural disorder, which promotes low-energy ionic transport pathways. However, generating oxygen vacancies without altering the amorphous nature is critical for practical applications. In this study, we report a low-doping strategy using cobalt (3 % and 6 %) to enhance the ionic conductivity of amorphous alumina without compromising its disordered structure.

Non-ketotic Hyperglycemic Hemichorea in a Patient Newly Diagnosed With Diabetes: A Rare Neurological Manifestation of Uncontrolled Diabetes.

Non-ketotic hyperglycemic hemichorea-hemiballismus (NHH) is a rare but reversible movement disorder associated with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. It is characterized by involuntary, non-suppressible choreiform, ballistic movements or several other involuntary movements (dystonia, tremors, etc), contralateral striatal hyperintensity on MRI, and hyperglycemia without ketosis. The exact pathophysiology remains unclear, but prompt glycemic control is essential for symptom resolution.

Assessment of Serum Phosphate Levels in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Across Different Stages of Kidney Disease.

Objective: This study aims to determine the serum phosphate level in patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) across different stages of the disease in a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Nephrology Department at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from August 2024 to January 2025. Over a six-month period, participants were recruited using a non-probability convenience sampling technique.

Anomaly recognition in surveillance based on feature optimizer using deep learning.

Surveillance systems are integral to ensuring public safety by detecting unusual incidents, yet existing methods often struggle with accuracy and robustness. This study introduces an advanced framework for anomaly recognition in surveillance, leveraging deep learning to address these challenges and achieve significant improvements over current techniques. The framework begins with preprocessing input images using histogram equalization to enhance feature visibility.

Peritoneal Tuberculosis With Septated Fluid Collection: A Case Highlighting the Value of Persistent Diagnostic Efforts.

Peritoneal tuberculosis (TB) is an uncommon form of extrapulmonary TB that often presents with nonspecific symptoms, making early diagnosis challenging. Delayed recognition can lead to complications, emphasizing the need for timely identification and treatment. We describe the case of a 25-year-old man who presented with a two-week history of fever and abdominal discomfort.

Impact of the Mamta UNICEF: A Fortified Food Nutrition Program on Childhood Malnutrition During Pregnancy in Pakistan.

Background: Malnutrition remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in developing countries like Pakistan, where it adversely affects child health and development. The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the importance of addressing malnutrition through community-based interventions.

Aim: The primary objective of this research is to compare the frequency of malnutrition among children whose mothers consumed fortified food during pregnancy versus those who did not, thereby assessing the effectiveness of fortified food under the "Mamta" nutrition program.

Honeybee colony soundscapes: Decoding distance-based cues and environmental stressors.

Honey bees play a crucial role in agricultural productivity and ecological stability, yet their interactions with environmental stressors, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and pollutants, pose significant challenges to their cognitive functions and behavior. This study investigates the effects of VOCs on the acoustic communication within honeybee colonies and foraging behavior, specifically focusing on how these compounds influence distance-related cues conveyed through colony sounds. Using OpenL3 embeddings and machine learning models, the study achieved accurate classification of food source distances based on acoustic features, with the K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) model demonstrating superior performance.

Glucuronoxylan hemicellulose-based manganese oxide nanoparticles for enhanced bactericidal, wound healing, and photocatalytic potential.

Hemicelluloses are promising candidates for synthesizing nanosystems for potential biomedical and photocatalytic applications. Glucuronoxylan (hemicellulose)-capped manganese oxide nanoparticles (GX-MnO NPs) were synthesized from quince ( M.) seed hydrogel.

Correction: Pedestrian POSE estimation using multi-branched deep learning pose net.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

High Proton Conductivity in xCuO/(1-x)CeO Electrolytes Induced by CuO Self-Nucleation and Electron-Ion Coupling.

Operating within the 300-500 °C range, low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) enable efficient and sustainable energy conversion, addressing the limitations of conventional high-temperature SOFCs. However, achieving >0.1 S cm ionic conductivity in electrolytes remains challenging.

Hernia uterus inguinale in a two months old female infant.

The most common age groups for indirect inguinal hernias are infants, with a low prevalence in girls. It is very uncommon for uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes to be present in hernial sac altogether. Since strangulation and necrosis of these organs may result in serious illness and infertility, early detection and surgery are essential.

Biomonitoring and phytoremediation potential of Conocarpus erectus (Buttonwood) for mitigating air pollution from highway traffic.

This study investigates the impact of vehicular-released heavy metals (Zn, Fe, Pb, Cd, and Ni) on foliar physiological and biochemical parameters of Conocarpus erectus and its relationship with the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI). Leaf samples were collected from six sites along a busy road (Bahawalpur to Rahim Yar Khan, KLP Road) in Punjab, Pakistan, during the spring season, with control samples taken 50 m away from the roadside. Heavy metal concentrations were analyzed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), revealing significantly higher levels of Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cu in leaf dust at polluted sites, particularly in Ahmadpur.

Mycoplasma-pneumonia-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome in an adult: a case report.

Background: Stevens-Johnson syndrome epitomizes an acute, exceptionally rare, and capricious immunological phenomenon marked by potentially life-threatening skin reactions, involvement of mucous membranes, and concomitant systemic manifestations. Most cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome have been attributed to being triggered by drugs, while a minority have implicated infectious agents such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Coxsackie virus A6 as their cause. We present a case report on the rare occurrence of Mycoplasma-pneumoniae-induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in a 25-year-old Sri Lankan male adult.

Correction: Zafar et al. Skin Lesion Analysis and Cancer Detection Based on Machine/Deep Learning Techniques: A Comprehensive Survey. 2023, , 146.

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Case of severe thrombocytopenia with recurrent extensive deep vein thrombosis due to antiphospholipid syndrome, management challenge.

Severe thrombocytopenia in secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) presents a significant management challenge. This case highlights the complexity of managing APS-related thrombocytopenia, requiring a nuanced approach to balancing bleeding and thrombotic risks. Intravenous immunoglobulin, followed by a short course of steroids, successfully increased platelet counts without adverse bleeding or thrombotic events.

Synthesis of reusable cement materials through photochemical modification of marble powder for composite structures.

Sustainability and environmental protection are reshaping industries, including construction, where sustainability plays a crucial role in its influence on global resource consumption and waste management. The current study has developed a reusable cement material by photo-chemical surface modification of marble powder, achieved by reacting glycidyl methacrylate with carbonate functionality. This innovative modified marble powder boosts the reusability of construction materials, unlocking new possibilities for sustainable building practices.