Tetramer Orbital-Ordering induced Lattice-Chirality in Ferrimagnetic, Polar MnTi2O4

Using density-functional theory calculations and experimental investigations on structural, magnetic and dielectric properties, we have elucidated a unique tetragonal ground state for MnTi2O4, a Ti^{3+} (3d^1)-ion containing spinel-oxide. With lowering of temperature around 164 K, cubic MnTi2O4 undergoes a structural transition into a polar P4_1 tetragonal structure and at further lower temperatures, around 45 K, the system undergoes a paramagnetic to ferrimagnetic transition. Magnetic superexchange interactions involving Mn and Ti spins and minimization of strain energy associated with co-operative Jahn-Teller distortions plays a critical role in stabilization of the unique tetramer-orbital ordered ground state which further gives rise to lattice chirality through subtle Ti-Ti bond-length modulations

Poverty and Inequality in Middle Income Countries: Policy Achievements, Political Obstacles

This collection offers a timely reassessment of viable ways of addressing poverty across the globe today. The profile of global poverty has changed dramatically over the past decade, and around three-quarters of the poor now live in middle income countries, making inequality a major issue. This requires us to fundamentally rethink anti-poverty strategies and policies, as many aspects of the established framework for poverty reduction are no longer effective. Featuring contributions from Latin America, Africa and Asia, this much-needed collection answers some of the key questions arising as development policy confronts the challenges of poverty and inequality on the global, national and local scale in both urban and rural contexts. Providing poverty researchers and practitioners with valuable new tools to address new forms of poverty in the right way, Poverty and Inequality in Middle Income Countries shows how a radical switch from aid to redistribution-based social policies is needed to combat new forms of global poverty.Comparative Research Programme on Poverty (CROP) at the University of BergenpublishedVersio

Aerosol generating procedures in trauma and orthopaedics in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic: What do we know?

Purpose: COVID-19 pandemic has created havoc all over the globe and spared no one regardless of status, gender, location and ethnicity. There were questions raised if trauma and orthopaedic (T&O) procedures actually generated aerosols? The need for a review of literature highlighting the nature and impact of aerosol generation within T&O surgery was noted. Methods: A comprehensive online search was performed for all published articles in the English language, evaluating AGPs in T&O surgery and the relevant personal protection equipment used. Results: The search strategy populated 43 studies. Six studies were identified as duplicates. The shortlisted 37 studies were screened and nine studies were included in the review. An additional four studies were included from the bibliography review. Conclusion: Most Orthopaedic procedures are high-risk aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). Conventional surgical masks do not offer protection against high-risk AGPs. In the current era of COVID-19 pandemic, there is a significant risk to the transmission of infection to the theatre staff. For protection against airborne transmission, appropriate masks should be used. These need proper fitting and sizing to ensure full protection when used

Kinetics and Mechanistic Studies on Oxidation of Levocarnitine by Bromamine-T in HCl Medium Catalyzed by Ru(III)

A kinetic study on RuCl3-catalysed oxidation of levocarnitine (LC) by sodium N-bromo-p-toluenesulphonamide or bromamine-T (BAT) has been carried out in HCl medium at 303 K. The reaction rate shows a first order dependence on [BAT]0 and fractional order with respect to both [LC]0 and [H+]. Addition of the reaction product, p-toluenesulphonamide, retards the rate. The addition of RuCl3 and chloride ions to the reaction mixture shows an increase in the rate of the reaction. The dielectric effect is positive. The variation of ionic strength of the medium has no significant effect on the rate of the reaction. The reaction fails to initiate polymerization of acrylamide. Michaelis-Menten type of kinetics has been proposed. Thermodynamic parameters have been computed from Arrhenius plot by studying the reaction at different temperatures. The reaction stoichiometry and oxidation products were identified. Based on the experimental observations a suitable mechanism was proposed and rate law deduced

Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for In‐Stent Restenosis Versus De Novo Lesions: A Meta‐Analysis

Background In‐stent restenosis (ISR) is commonly encountered even in the era of contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). There is a paucity of data on the comparative outcomes of PCI for ISR lesions versus de novo lesions. Methods and Results An electronic search was conducted for MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Embase through August 2022 for studies comparing the clinical outcomes after PCI for ISR versus de novo lesions. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events. Data were pooled using a random‐effects model. The final analysis included 12 studies, with a total of 708 391 patients, of whom 71 353 (10.3%) underwent PCI for ISR. The weighted follow‐up duration was 29.1 months. Compared with de novo lesions, PCI for ISR was associated with a higher incidence of major adverse cardiac events (odds ratio [OR], 1.31 [95% CI, 1.18–1.46]). There was no difference on a subgroup analysis of chronic total occlusion lesions versus none (Pinteraction=0.69). PCI for ISR was associated with a higher incidence of all‐cause mortality (OR, 1.03 [95% CI, 1.02–1.04]), myocardial infarction (OR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.11–1.29]), target vessel revascularization (OR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.29–1.55]), and stent thrombosis (OR, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.11–1.87]), but no difference in cardiovascular mortality (OR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.90–1.20]). Conclusions PCI for ISR is associated with higher incidence of adverse cardiac events compared with PCI for de novo lesions. Future efforts should be directed toward prevention of ISR and exploring novel treatment strategies for ISR lesions