The Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery (WCPCCS) will be held in Washington DC, USA, from Saturday, 26 August, 2023 to Friday, 1 September, 2023, inclusive. The Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery will be the largest and most comprehensive scientific meeting dedicated to paediatric and congenital cardiac care ever held. At the time of the writing of this manuscript, The Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery has 5,037 registered attendees (and rising) from 117 countries, a truly diverse and international faculty of over 925 individuals from 89 countries, over 2,000 individual abstracts and poster presenters from 101 countries, and a Best Abstract Competition featuring 153 oral abstracts from 34 countries. For information about the Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, please visit the following website: [www.WCPCCS2023.org]. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the activities related to global health and advocacy that will occur at the Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.

Acknowledging the need for urgent change, we wanted to take the opportunity to bring a common voice to the global community and issue the Washington DC WCPCCS Call to Action on Addressing the Global Burden of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Diseases. A copy of this Washington DC WCPCCS Call to Action is provided in the Appendix of this manuscript. This Washington DC WCPCCS Call to Action is an initiative aimed at increasing awareness of the global burden, promoting the development of sustainable care systems, and improving access to high quality and equitable healthcare for children with heart disease as well as adults with congenital heart disease worldwide.

Measurements of local plasma parameters in dusty plasma are crucial for understanding the physics issues related to such systems. The Langmuir probe, a small electrode immersed in the plasma, provides such measurements. However, designing of a Langmuir probe system in a dusty plasma environment demands special consideration. First, the probe has to be miniaturized enough so that its perturbation on the ambient dust structure is minimal. At the same time, the probe dimensions must be such that a well-defined theory exists for interpretation of its characteristics. The associated instrumentation must also support the measurement of current collected by the probe with high signal to noise ratio. The most important consideration, of course, comes from the fact that the probes are prone to dust contamination, as the dust particles tend to stick to the probe surface and alter the current collecting area in unpredictable ways. This article describes the design and operation of a Langmuir probe system that resolves these challenging issues in dusty plasma. In doing so, first, different theories that are used to interpret the probe characteristics in collisionless as well as in collisional regimes are discussed, with special emphasis on application. The critical issues associated with the current–voltage characteristics of Langmuir probe obtained in different operating regimes are discussed. Then, an algorithm for processing these characteristics efficiently in presence of ion-neutral collisions in the probe sheath is presented.

In a quasineutral plasma, electrons undergo collective oscillations, known as plasma oscillations, when perturbed locally. The oscillations propagate due to finite temperature effects. However, the wave can lose the phase coherence between constituting oscillators in an inhomogeneous plasma (phase mixing) because of the dependence of plasma oscillation frequency on plasma density. The longitudinal electric field associated with the wave may be used to accelerate electrons to high energies by exciting large amplitude wave. However when the maximum amplitude of the wave is reached that plasma can sustain, the wave breaks. The phenomena of wave breaking and phase mixing have applications in plasma heating and particle acceleration. For detailed experimental investigation of these phenomena a new device, inverse mirror plasma experimental device (IMPED), has been designed and fabricated. The detailed considerations taken before designing the device, so that different aspects of these phenomena can be studied in a controlled manner, are described. Specifications of different components of the IMPED machine and their flexibility aspects in upgrading, if necessary, are discussed. Initial results meeting the prerequisite condition of the plasma for such study, such as a quiescent, collisionless and uniform plasma, are presented. The machine produces δnnoise/n ⩽ 1%, Luniform ~ 120 cm at argon filling pressure of ~10−4 mbar and axial magnetic field of B = 1090 G.

A summary of the Third International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Conference proceedings on neuroimaging research and neurocircuitry models of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is presented. This survey of recent and ongoing research indicates that a wide range of modern techniques and experimental strategies are being employed in a complementary fashion to enhance our understanding of OCD. Imaging studies in animal models of OCD are helping to elaborate relevant normal anatomy and neuro-chemistry. Functional imaging methods are being employed in conjunction with behavioral, pharmacologic, and cognitive challenge paradigms. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy as well as radiotracer methods are being utilized to measure neurochemical and neuropharmacologic indices in OCD. Transcranial magnetic stimulation has emerged as a tool for probing neurocircuitry that may also have therapeutic potential. Experimental designs and data-analytic methods are evolving to help elucidate the pathophysiology of OCD and related disorders, delineate neurobiologically meaningful subtypes of OCD, and identify potential predictors of treatment response. Collectively, these efforts promise important advances as we approach the new millennium.

Maximization of non-coking coal in coal blend is eloquent interest among researchers incoke making throughout the world. To maximize the non-coking coals in coal blend with thescarce and expensive coking coals is an essential practice in the iron and steel industry.The fundamental aspect of the coal blending theory of low value coals to produce goodquality of metallurgical coke in non-recovery coke making process was investigated in thisstudy by using the composite coking potential technique. The implementation of thetechnique has yielded use of up to 25% pulverized coal injection, 20% raw petroleum cokeas a component of coal blend. Results show that the coal blend having composite cokingpotential value of \hbox{$\geqslant $}⩾4.8 is desired to achieve the targeted coke strengthafter reaction of \hbox{$\geqslant $}⩾65.

Pigeonpea is an important legume crop of the semi-arid tropics. In India, pigeonpea is mostly grown in areas prone to waterlogging, resulting in major production losses. It is imperative to identify genotypes that show tolerance at critical crop growth stages to prevent these losses. A selection of 272 diverse pigeonpea accessions was evaluated for seed submergence tolerance for different durations (0, 120, 144, 168 and 192 h) under in vitro conditions in the laboratory. All genotypes exhibited high (0·79–0·98) survival rates for up to 120 h of submergence. After 192 h of submergence, the hybrids as a group exhibited significantly higher survival rates (0·79) than the germplasm (0·71), elite breeding lines (0·68) and commercial varieties (0·58). Ninety-six genotypes representing the phenotypic variation observed during laboratory screening were further evaluated for waterlogging tolerance at the early seedling stage using pots, and survival rates were recorded for 8 days after completion of the stress treatment. Forty-nine of these 96 genotypes, representing the phenotypic variation for waterlogging tolerance, were chosen in order to evaluate their performance under natural field conditions. The following cultivated varieties and hybrids were identified as tolerant after three levels of testing (in vitro, in pots and in the field): ICPH 2431, ICPH 2740, ICPH 2671, ICPH 4187, MAL 9, LRG 30, Maruti, ICPL 20128, ICPL 332, ICPL 20237, ICPL 20238, Asha and MAL 15. These materials can be used as sources of waterlogging tolerance in breeding programmes.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK, EC 4.1.1.32) is an essential regulatory enzyme of glycolysis in helminths in contrast to its role in gluconeogenesis in their host. Previously we have reported that phytochemicals from Flemingia vestita (Family: Fabaceae), genistein in particular, have vermifugal action and are known to affect carbohydrate metabolism in the cestode, Raillietina echinobothrida. In order to determine the functional differences of PEPCK from the parasite and its avian host (Gallus domesticus), we purified the parasite enzyme apparently to homogeneity, and characterized it. The native PEPCK is a monomer with a subunit molecular weight of 65 kDa. The purified enzyme displayed standard Michaelis-Menten kinetics with Km value of 42·52 μM for its substrate PEP. The Ki for the competitive inhibitors GTP, GMP, ITP and IMP for the carboxylation reaction were determined and discussed. In order to identify putative modulators from plant sources, phytochemicals from F. vestita and Stephania glabra were tested on the purified PEPCK, which resulted in alteration of its activity. From our results, we hypothesize that PEPCK may be a potential target site for anthelmintic action.

Adding value to eggs, being a very old concept in foods, is practiced for supplementing nutritive values along with provision for ease of handling too. Some of the value-added egg products include tea/century eggs (for extended shelf life of egg products); low cholesterol eggs (preferred by health conscious customers); and ‘super’ eggs produced through use of either herbal supplements, inclusion of drugs, manipulation of dietary protein and energy content, poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), or additional vitamins and minerals in the poultry diet. These are considered helpful in reducing the risk of heart diseases and in some cancerous conditions.

However, the focus of this review is to concentrate on the production of salted eggs and the process of brining. Sales of salted eggs have been quite encouraging for on its own merits. People in many parts of the globe, prepare and market salted eggs as part of their preservative/extra value but very little scientific information has been available regarding the standardised brining technology and storage quality of salted chicken eggs. Apart from this, no information has been available on the hatching performance of salted eggs, subsequent growth performance of progeny, broiler chick quality and their immune-competence against disease. In view of the requirement for information, it was deemed imperative to consolidate the relevant information to determine future research needs.

Periodic travelling wave solutions for a strongly nonlinear model of long internal wave propagation in a two-fluid system are derived and extensively analysed, with the aim of providing structure to the rich parametric space of existence of such waves for the parent Euler system. The waves propagate at the interface between two homogeneous-density incompressible fluids filling the two-dimensional domain between rigid planar boundaries. The class of waves with a prescribed mean elevation, chosen to coincide with the origin of the vertical (parallel to gravity) axis, and prescribed zero period-average momentum and volume-flux is studied in detail. The constraints are selected because of their physical interpretation in terms of possible processes of wave generation in wave-tanks, and give rise to a quadrature formula which is analysed in parameter space with a combination of numerical and analytical tools. The resulting model solutions are validated against those computed numerically from the parent Euler two-layer system with a boundary element method. The parametric domain of existence of model periodic waves is determined in closed form by curves in the amplitude–speed (A, c) parameter plane corresponding to infinite period limiting cases of fronts (conjugate states) and solitary waves. It is found that the existence domain of Euler solutions is a subset of that of the model. A third closed form relation between c and A indicates where the Euler solutions cease to exist within the model's domain, and this is related to appearance of ‘overhanging’ (multiple valued) wave profiles. The model existence domain is further partitioned in regions where the model is expected to provide accurate approximations to Euler solutions based on analytical estimates from the quadrature. The resulting predictions are found to be in good agreement with the numerical Euler solutions, as exhibited by several wave properties, including kinetic and potential energy, over a broad range of parameter values, extending to the limiting cases of critical depth ratio and extreme density ratios. In particular, when the period is sufficiently long, model solutions show that for a given supercritical speed waves of substantially larger amplitude than the limiting amplitude of solitary waves can exist, and are good approximations of the corresponding Euler solutions. This finding can be relevant for modelling field observations of oceanic internal waves, which often occur in wavetrains with multiple peaks.

The effect of oxyclozanide, hexachlorophene, nitroxynil, rafoxanide and diamphenethide on malate dehydrogenase activity of homogenates of Fasciola gigantica, Fasciolopsis buski and Paramphistomum explanatum was investigated. The ratio of oxaloacetate reduction to malate oxidation in homogenates of Fasciola gigantica, Fasciolopsis buski and P. explanatum was 4·5:1, 3·6:1 and 5·2:1 respectively. Oxyclozanide and rafoxanide at 10−3 M inhibited enzyme activity by 100% in homogenates from all three species while hexachlorophene at 10−3M also caused 100% inhibition in homogenates from Fasciola gigantica and P. explanatum but only 65% of malate oxidation in Fasciolopsis buski homogenates. Nitroxynil at 10−3M produced 60% inhibition in F. buski homogenates yet had little effect at this concentration on preparations from the other species. Little inhibition was seen with diamphenethide, even at high concentrations. Rapid death of Fasicola gigantica and P. explanatum resulted in vitro when 10−3M oxyclozanide, hexachlorophene, nitroxynil or rafoxanide, were added to the incubation medium. Fasciolopsis buski was killed by 10−3M oxyclozanide but at this concentration the remaining compounds only caused reduced activity. Assay of malate dehydrogenase following drug treatment in vitro failed to show any appreciable reduction in enzyme activity in Fasciola gigantica and P. explanatum but oxyclozanide and hexachlorophene produced inhibition in Fasciolopsis buski. The mode of action of these compounds is discussed.

Fasciola gigantica fatty acid binding protein (FABP) was evaluated for evoking an immune response in mice, by delivering the gene coding for this protein with mannosylated-polyethylenimine (PEI) to peritoneal cells. Mice were immunized with 50 μg recombinant plasmid DNA (Group I) or DNA-PEI-mannose (a 22 kDa linear cationic polymer with mannose ligand) (Group II) via the intraperitoneal route. Antibody studies showed no significant humoral immune response evoked to this DNA immunization with either PEI-mannose-delivered or naked DNA. However, on protein boosting of these DNA-primed mice there was a significant enhancement of antibody titre. Flow cytometric bead array was used to measure quantitites of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) cytokines. Overexpression of T-helper 1 (Th1) cytokines such as IFN-γ and TNF, with a lower but significant expression of the T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokine IL-5 was detected. Gene delivery using polyethylenimine-mannose ligand showed significant expression of IFN-γ and TNF (P < 0.05), but no significant difference in IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5 (P>0.05) cytokine expression was observed between naked-DNA- and mannosylated PEI-DNA-delivered mice. Naked- or PEI-delivered-DNA immunization produced insignificant levels of IL-2 and IL-4 (P>0.05) cytokines in both groups of mice.

Among various factors affecting broiler meat quality, the genetic attributes play an imperative role. The growth hormone gene imparts anabolic effects on skeletal muscle growth and myostatin. The growth and differentiation factor-B gene negatively regulates the myogenesis to determine the body mass. This review concerns the role of growth hormone, myostatin and other such important candidate genes affecting development and differentiation of skeletal muscles. The relationships of higher weight gain with meat quality traits with pH, water holding capacity, extract release volume, collagen solubility, texture and muscle proteins has been ascertained. It is inferred that fast growing broilers give relatively poor meat quality. It is concluded that there is a strong need for genetic manoeuvring regarding silencing of myostatin gene for better qualitative and quantitative broiler meat yields.

Responses of nodulating and non-nodulating isolines of Clark and Harosoy to applications of N were studied, to evaluate the suitability of symbiosis versus N fertilization for soybean. Nodulating lines did not respond to N when they were either effectively inoculated or raised on a field which had been under inoculated soybean in the past. On a field brought under soybean for the first time, uninoculated Clark and Harosoy needed 300 and 235 kg. N/ha. respectively to give maximum yields. Symbiosis proved better than N fertilization for the N nutrition of soybean.

In this work we report the adhesion of a thin Tantalum (Ta) barrier films deposited on nanoporous dielectric substrates (Xerogel and Methyl Silesquioxanes (MSQ)). The high compressive stresses in the Ta barrier layer lead to spontaneous delamination from the underlying substrate resulting in a telephone cord like morphology, which allows the measurement of critical interfacial adhesion (fracture) energy. The fracture energy of Ta barrier films on different porous substrates is evaluated using the above two methods and the resulting differences are explained. Fracture energy varies inversely as a power law with the dielectric pore size indicating pores are essential to delamination in the barrier-dielectric interface. The observed trend of fracture energy is related to other mechanical properties of the porous substrate offering insights into the underlying mechanisms governing fracture of films deposited on porous substrates.

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to study grain boundary sliding in pure and doped Cu bicrystals using both Lennard-Jones and Embedded-Atom Method potentials. Two tilt [100] grain boundaries are considered: the coincident site lattice Σ5 interface and a random high angle interface. Shear stress between 0.69 GPa and 1.61 GPa was applied to the bicrystals for a duration of 10 ps at ambient temperature (300K) and high temperature (800K). For the pure bicrystals, the sliding of the Σ5 interface with respect to the random interface was lower at 800K and higher at 300K. For the doped bicrystals, interstitial dopant atoms and substitutional dopant atoms with larger atomic radius were effective in retarding grain boundary sliding. These simulations will aid further work to determine how segregated dopant atoms alter the tensile properties of nanocrystalline metals.

Molecular dynamics simulations of bulk nanocrystalline Cu with dopant atoms segregated in the grain boundary regions were performed to investigate the impediment of grain growth during annealing at constant temperature of 800K. In this parametric study, the concentration and atomic radii mismatch between the dopants and the host atoms were systematically varied to determine how to most effectively retard grain growth. It is found that samples with positive excess enthalpy (ΔH) underwent various degrees of grain growth; however, when ?H was negative, no coarsening occurred. Also, ΔH varied linearly with dopant concentration with the slope equal to the enthalpy of segregation, in agreement with previous theoretical work.

Polymerization occurring during fluorocarbon plasma treatment as a potentialmethod for pore sealing was investigated. CHF3 was used as areactant gas to expedite the rate of polymerization due to the presence ofhydrogen and the low C/F ratio. The reactor pressure was varied from 30mTorrto 90mTorr to change the number of neutrals that act as the polymerizingspecies. The films were exposed to the plasma for times of 1min, 3min, and 5min to observe the penetration depth of neutrals and the thickness ofmodified layer as a function of time. Dielectric constants were measuredbefore and after plasma treatment. The film morphology was investigated byscanning electron microscopy before and after plasma treatment and afeatureless surface morphology was observed at 90mTorr on a 56% porosityfilm. After plasma treatment, the average pore neck size decreases which mayhelp reduce metal precursor penetration during metallization.

Two particularly important reliability issues facing the integration of low-κ dielectric films are the fracture energy of the barrier-dielectricinterface and the barrier layer integrity during processing. We have noticedthat the compressive stresses in the barrier layers on low- κ dielectricslead to spontaneous delamination and formation of telephone-cord likemorphologies. These morphologies allow the measurement of fracture energyand are advantageous over artificially contrived features to yield realisticdebonding parameters. The fracture energy of common barrier films, TaN andTa, was determined using this method for varying porosity nanoporous silicaand MSQ. Detailed characterization of the telephone cord morphology using acombination of Optical Microscopy, SEM and Profilometry was done. Thefracture energy for Ta on different low-κ dielectrics was evaluated using a1-D model for straight buckles. The kinetic coefficient of buckling was alsoevaluated.

The optical degradation of polysilane copolymer has been studied in spin cast thin films and solutions using light source of 325 nm wavelength. The room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of these films show a sharp emission at 368 nm when excited with a source of 325 nm. However, the PL intensity deteriorates with time upon light exposure. Further the causes of this degradation have been examined by characterizing the material for its transmission behaviour and changes occurring in molecular weight as analysed by GPC data.