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This article reports the superparamagnetic behavior of metal-free nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs). The pulsed laser ablation (PLA) method was utilized to synthesize N-GQDs with an average diameter of 3.45 nm and a high doping level (N/C) of 1.4. Magnetic properties of as-synthesized N-GQDs were explored by performing magnetization vs magnetic field (M–H) and magnetization vs temperature (M–T) measurements. M–H plots measured in a temperature range of 2–300 K revealed the superparamagnetic behavior of N-GQDs. The value of saturation magnetization was found to be directly correlated to nitrogen concentration and a saturation magnetization up to 28.7 emu/g was obtained at room temperature (300 K). M–T measurements with zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) conditions were employed to study anisotropy energy barriers and blocking temperature. A variation in the blocking temperature (TB) from 288 to 61 K was observed when the external magnetic field (H) was changed from 0.1 to 0.6 T. The origin of superparamagnetism was attributed to the presence of graphitic nitrogen bonding configuration and defect states. The observed superparamagnetic properties along with the optical properties of N-GQDs create an opportunity for developing materials for biomedical applications and data recording devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and toxic heavy metals in soils is having harmful effects on food crops and the environment. However, the defense mechanisms and capacity of plants to counteract these substances have not been comprehensively explored, necessitating a systematic categorization of their inhibitory effects. Accordingly, an experimental investigation was conducted to examine the growth and physiological response of maize (Zea mays L.) to different concentrations and combinations of pyrene, copper (Cu), and cadmium (Cd), with an indicator developed to assess the joint stress. The results showed that 57-day culture with contaminations significantly inhibited the plant biomass via causing root cell necrosis, inducing lipid peroxidation, and damaging photosynthesis. Cd (50-100 mg/kg) induced stronger inhibition than Cu (800-1000 mg/kg) under both single and joint stress, and their co-existence further aggravated the adverse effects and generated synergetic inhibition. Although the presence of pyrene at a low concentration (5-50 mg/kg) can somewhat diminish the metal stress, the elevated pollutant concentrations (400-750 mg/kg pyrene, 50-100 mg/kg Cd, and 800-1000 mg/kg Cu) switched the antagonistic effect to additive inhibition on maize growth. A satisfactory tolerance of a low-level pyrene and/or metal stress was determined, associated with a relative stability of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) content and antioxidant enzymes activity. Nevertheless, the photosynthesis and antioxidant system were significantly damaged with increasing contaminant concentrations, resulting in chlorosis and biomass reduction. These findings could provide valuable knowledge for ensuring crop yield and food quality as well as implementing soil phytoremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils (EOs) are known for their diverse bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, skin-barrier repairing and anticancer, and therefore, hold profound potential to be used in cosmetic and skincare products. Owing to these properties, EOs have long been utilized to address a range of dermatological issues, from acne and inflammation to aging and dryness. However, problems associated with EOs beset their practical applications, which include high volatility, oxidation, hydrophobic nature, low bioavailability, skin irritation, chemical transformation and poor stability in air and light. A prospective of nanolipidic formulations, including the nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) system for improved skin delivery of these EOs highlights the possibility of their use in topical applications, which offer several advantages such as improved bioavailability and stability, lower toxicity and higher drug content. These nanoformulations protect the EOs from environmental degradation and improve their penetration into deeper skin layers, leading to prolonged therapeutic benefits. The delivery of bioactive agents using a conventional topical preparation exhibits low penetration, frequent applications, poor adherence and prolonged therapy duration, whereas the novel delivery system exhibits improved stability of the drug, enhanced skin penetration, enhanced retention and better therapeutic efficacy. This review provides a comprehensive compendium of information on EOs, which are widely used in skincare, along with their nanolipidic formulations for maximized skincare uses. The mechanism of action of EOs as skin bioactive agents, challenges associated with their use, advances in nanolipidic formulations and their market value as cosmetic skincare products are also explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the past changes in extreme precipitation and temperature events across the Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan. This cold and mountainous environmental region has witnessed a significant increase in climate-related disasters over the past few decades. Spatiotemporal changes in extreme temperature and precipitation events were analyzed using 24 indices developed by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI). For this study, in situ data of 16 national meteorological stations were obtained from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) for the past three decades (1991–2020). The significance of the trends was assessed using the modified Mann–Kendall (MMK) test, and the Theil–Sen (TS) slope estimator was used to estimate the slope of the trend. The results showed that there has been a consistent decline in the total precipitation amount across the Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan. The trend exhibited a decrease in the annual average precipitation at a rate of −6.56 mm/year. Simultaneously, there was an increasing trend in the annual average minimum and maximum temperatures at rates of 0.02 °C/year and 0.07 °C/year, respectively. The frequencies of consecutive wet days (CWDs) and maximum 5-day precipitation (RX5day) have decreased significantly, with decreasing rates of −0.40 days/year and −1.18 mm/year, respectively. The amount of precipitation during very wet days (R95p) and extremely wet days was decreased by −19.20 and −13.60 mm/decade, respectively. The warm spell duration (WSDI) and the frequency of warm days (TX90p) across the Himalayan Range both increased by 1.5 and 1.4 days/decade. The number of cold days (TX10p) and cold nights (TN10p) decreased by 2.9 and 3.4 days/decade. The average temperature of the hottest nights (TXn) and the diurnal temperature range (DTR) were increased by 0.10 and 0.30 °C/decade. The results indicated an increasing tendency of dry and warm weather in the Himalayan region of Pakistan, which could have adverse consequences for water resources, agriculture, and disaster management in the country. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize the implementation of localized adaptation techniques in order to enhance sustainable climate resilience and effectively address the emerging climate challenges faced by these mountainous regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hybrid NAR-RBFs Networks for COVID-19 fractional order model is examined in this scientific study. Hybrid NAR-RBFs Networks for COVID-19, that is more infectious which is appearing in numerous areas as people strive to stop the COVID-19 pandemic. It is crucial to figure out how to create strategies that would stop the spread of COVID-19 with a different age groups. We used the epidemic scenario in the Hybrid NAR-RBFs Networks as a case study in order to replicate the propagation of the modified COVID-19. In this research work, existence and stability are verified for COVID-19 as well as proved unique solutions by applying some results of fixed point theory. The developed approach to investigate the impact of Hybrid NAR-RBFs Networks due to COVID-19 at different age groups is relatively advanced. Also obtain solutions for a proposed model by utilizing Atanga Toufik technique and fractal fractional which are the advanced techniques for such type of infectious problems for continuous monitoring of spread of COVID-19 in different age groups. Comparisons has been made to check the efficiency of techniques as well as for finding the reliable solutions to understand the dynamical behavior of Hybrid NAR-RBFs Networks for non-linear COVID-19. Finally, the parameters are evaluated to see the impact of illness and present numerical simulations using Matlab to see actual behavior of this infectious disease for Hybrid NAR-RBFs Networks of COVID-19 for different age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

SiGe‐SiO2‐based structures present high interest for their high photosensitivity from visible to short‐wavelength infrared. Herein, two postdeposition annealing procedures, that is, rapid thermal annealing (RTA) and rapid‐like furnace annealing (FA), are compared. Both RTA and FA are performed at 600 °C for 1 min for SiGe nanocrystals (NCs) formation in SiO2 matrix in Si/SiO2/SiGe/SiO2 structures deposited by magnetron sputtering. The FA imitates RTA resulting in enhanced spectral response. X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy are carried out showing Ge‐rich SiGe NCs with 11.3 ± 1.2 nm size for RTA and 9.4 ± 0.8 nm for FA. Photocurrent spectra for both structures show several peaks that are annealing dependent. The photocurrent intensity for FA samples is ≈7 times higher than RTA samples while cutoff wavelengths are slightly different, that is, 1365 nm for FA and 1375 nm for RTA. The FA structures show (at −1.5 V) over 4 A W−1 responsivity at 730 nm, 6.4 × 107 Jones detectivity at 735 nm, and 2.2 × 107 Jones at about 1210 nm. FA structures contain small SiGe NCs with incorporated residual strain, while RTA ones are formed of columnar SiGe NCs separated by SiGeOx amorphous regions and show increased tensile strain in the SiGe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 is linked to diabetes, increasing the likelihood and severity of outcomes due to hyperglycemia, immune system impairment, vascular problems, and comorbidities like hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, which can lead to catastrophic outcomes. The study presents a novel COVID-19 management approach for diabetic patients using a fractal fractional operator and Mittag-Leffler kernel. It uses the Lipschitz criterion and linear growth to identify the solution singularity and analyzes the global derivative impact, confirming unique solutions and demonstrating the bounded nature of the proposed system. The study examines the impact of COVID-19 on individuals with diabetes, using global stability analysis and quantitative examination of equilibrium states. Sensitivity analysis is conducted using reproductive numbers to determine the disease's status in society and the impact of control strategies, highlighting the importance of understanding epidemic problems and their properties. This study uses two-step Lagrange polynomial to analyze the impact of the fractional operator on a proposed model. Numerical simulations using MATLAB validate the effects of COVID-19 on diabetic patients and allow predictions based on the established theoretical framework, supporting the theoretical findings. This study will help to observe and understand how COVID-19 affects people with diabetes. This will help with control plans in the future to lessen the effects of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public Interest Litigation (PIL) allows individuals and organizations to bring legal cases on behalf of the public to address societal problems such as human rights abuses, environmental degradation, and corruption. In the Pakistani Supreme Court, PIL has emerged as a significant mechanism for addressing these concerns. This paper discusses the significance of PIL, the issues encountered in its practice, and a few landmark cases. The Supreme Court has repeatedly evolved well-founded legal norms governing PIL, thereby empowering the underprivileged sections of society. Cases such as Shehla Zia vs. WAPDA and the Suo Moto Case regarding Lahore smog exemplify how the judiciary takes initiative to secure rights and hold authorities accountable. PIL has impacted public policy and transformed societies by improving accountability among governing bodies. However, PIL faces challenges, including issues of admissibility, the potential for time-consuming legal actions, and the risk of abuse for personal or political gain. The tension between the judiciary and the principle of the separation of powers is a critical factor in maintaining judicial independence. To optimize PIL, it is essential to enhance public awareness, particularly regarding legal rights, and to establish an efficient legal aid service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Economics & Administrative Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background/Objectives: Obesity is currently considered a public health problem in both developed and developing countries. Gender- and age-specific body mass index (BMI) growth standards or references are particularly effective in monitoring the global obesity pandemic. This study aimed to report disparities in age-, gender- and ethnic-specific statistical estimates of overweight and obesity for 2–18 years aged Pakistani children and adolescents using the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Disease Control (CDC) 2000 references, the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and Pakistani references for BMI. Methods: The study used secondary data of 10,668 pediatric population, aged 2–18 years. Demographic information like age (years), gender, city and anthropometric examinations, i.e., height (cm) and weight (kg) were used in this study. The recommended age- and gender-specific BMI cut-offs of the WHO, CDC 2000 and the IOTF references were used to classify the children sampled as overweight and obese. For the Pakistani reference, overweight and obesity were defined as BMI-for-age ≥ 85th percentile and BMI-for-age ≥ 95th percentile, respectively. Cohen's κ statistic was used to assess the agreement between the international references and local study population references in the classification of overweight/obesity. Results: The statistical estimates (%) of the participants for overweight and obesity varied according to the reference used: WHO (7.4% and 2.2%), CDC (4.9% and 2.1%), IOTF (5.2% and 2.0%) and Pakistan (8.8% and 6.0%), respectively; suggesting higher levels of overweight and obesity prevalence when local study references are used. The Kappa statistic shows a moderate to excellent agreement (κ ≥ 0.6) among three international references when classifying child overweight and obesity and poor agreement between local references and the WHO (0.45, 0.52), CDC (0.25, 0.50) and IOTF references (0.16, 0.31), for overweight and obesity, respectively. Conclusions: The results of the study showed a visible difference in the estimates of excess body weight after applying the WHO, CDC, IOTF and local BMI references to the study population. Based on the disparity results and poor agreement between international references and the local study reference, this study recommends using local BMI references in identifying children with overweight and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several recent observational studies have associated obesity, lifestyle factors (smoking, sleep duration, and alcohol drinking), and glycemic traits with facial aging. However, whether this relationship is causal due to confounding and reverse causation is yet to be substantiated. Aims: We aimed to assess these relationships using Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods: For the instrumental variables, this paper selected independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to the exposures at a genome-wide state (P < 5 × 10−8) in equivalent genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Using the UK Biobank, we obtained summary-level data for facial aging on 423,999 individuals. The primary assessments were performed through the combination of complementing techniques (simple method approaches, weighted model, MR-Egger, and weighted median) and the inverse-variance-weighted method. Along with that, we examined the heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy through different types of sensitivity analyses. Results: The correlations were (a) facial aging for body mass index (BMI, OR = 1.054, 95% CI 1.044–1.64), (b) waist/hip ratio (OR = 1.056, 95% CI 1.023–1.091), and (c) smoking (OR = 1.023, 95% CI 1.007–1.039). Equally important, the correlations for waist/hip ratio remained robust after adjusting for the genetically predicted BMI (OR = 1.028, 95% CI 1.003–1.054). However, no causal effects of alcoholic drinking, glycemic traits, and sleep duration on facial aging were observed. Conclusions: The outcomes shed light on the potential correlation of obesity and cigarette smoking with facial aging while putting forward a more comprehensive and credible foundation for the optimization of facial aging strategies. No Level Assigned: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase in the growing rate of municipal solid waste throughout the world and due to the high moisture and organic components of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, dry anaerobic digestion has become the future direction to cope with this waste while reducing the impact on the environment, including climate change. Dry anaerobic digestion has become a promising technology that converts the organic fraction of municipal solid waste into combustible biogases, which can be used as an alternative energy source. However, the technology faces several challenges that must be addressed to enhance its performance and adoption. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the current technologies used for dry anaerobic digestion in OFMSW and delves into the various factors that influence the performance of these technologies. This review paper also identifies and discusses the challenges faced in optimizing and scaling up these technologies, such as feedstock pretreatment requirements, characteristics of inoculum, and other crucial parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity in the global food market is expanding as thousands of new products enter the business every year, among which nutraceutical and functional foods hold important positions. The present research work aimed at the nutritional evaluation of three medicinal herbs, i.e., turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), ginger (Zingiber officinale), and black cumin (Nigella sativa). A bread formulation was enriched with the individual/combined supplementation (1–3%) of these herbs. Later, the bread was analyzed for nutritional, rheological, textural, and sensorial characteristics. The results revealed that the herbs improved the nutritional composition of bread, especially ash and fiber, as the maximum ash and fiber contents were noticed in T15 (2.0% dried powder of each plant) with values of 1.64 ± 0.04% and 4.63 ± 0.16%, respectively. The results regarding the rheological behavior showed minor variations in the rheological traits and a slight increase in dough development time up to 4.50 ± 0.20 min in T10 from 2.80 ± 0.13 min in T0. The sensorial attributes also indicated their marked suitability as external and internal characteristics were least affected by the addition of the herbs. Although some parameters like the crust and crumb colors were affected by the addition of black cumin, showing values of 6.25 ± 0.52 and 4.44 ± 0.19, respectively, in T15, and aroma characteristics were affected by the addition of ginger, supplementation with a combination of herbs at lower doses mitigated the adverse effects of other herbs. Moreover, shelf-life extension, especially with the addition of turmeric powder, was the hallmark of this research. This study concluded that medicinal herbs can be incorporated into baked products to improve the nutritional and sensorial attributes of functional herbal bread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large area single and bilayer graphene are grown on Pt/Ti/SiO2 substrates by hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) with and without the assistance of Cu foil. The quality and number of graphene layers deposited on the substrate are assessed by Raman Spectroscopy. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is used for assessing the surface topography of the graphene films grown on the Pt/Ti/SiO2 substrates. The microstructure and elemental analyses are performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that bilayer graphene growth is facilitated by a copper foil placed nearby Pt/Ti/SiO2 substrate and by a high filament temperature in the HFCVD reactor. Monolayer graphene grows only when no copper foil is placed near the Pt/Ti/SiO2 substrate at a low filament temperature. The approach paves a novel pathway towards the layer‐controlled growth of graphene on Pt/Ti/SiO2 substrates by HFCVD for frontier applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe COVID‐19 causes acute inflammation, which is complicated by venous thromboembolism events (VTE). However, it is unclear if VTE risk has evolved over time since the COVID‐19 outbreak. Aims: To determine markers of thrombo‐inflammation and rates of symptomatic VTE in patients hospitalised for COVID‐19 in a metropolitan hospital in Sydney, Australia. Methods: A retrospective, single‐centre, cohort study was performed by reviewing electronic medical records of consecutive patients admitted to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital between March 2020 and September 2021. This period included three waves of COVID‐19 outbreaks in Australia with the ancestral, alpha and delta variants. Standard coagulation assays and inflammatory markers were recorded over 4 weeks. Results: A total of 205 patients were consecutively admitted during the study period. Activated partial thromboplastin time, neutrophil count and C‐reactive protein (CRP) were significantly increased in patients hospitalised in the intensive care unit (ICU) compared with non‐ICU patients. The use of anti‐inflammatory medication increased in 2021 compared with 2020. The mortality rate was 7.3% in our cohort. Ninety‐four per cent of patients received anticoagulation with 6.3% of patients developing VTE. Conclusion: We observed lower rates of VTE compared to the internationally reported rate for the same period. We conclude that in the setting of controlled hospital admission rate and standard anticoagulation guidelines, COVID‐19 resulted in similar thrombo‐inflammatory response and VTE rates over the first 1.5 years of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and fast breath monitoring is of great importance for various healthcare applications, for example, medical diagnoses, studying sleep apnea, and early detection of physiological disorders. Devices meant for such applications tend to be uncomfortable for the subject (patient) and pricey. Therefore, there is a need for a cost-effective, lightweight, small-dimensional, and non-invasive device whose presence does not interfere with the observed signals. This paper reports on the fabrication of a highly sensitive human respiratory sensor based on silicon nanowires (SiNWs) fabricated by a top-down method of metal-assisted chemical-etching (MACE). Besides other important factors, reducing the final cost of the sensor is of paramount importance. One of the factors that increases the final price of the sensors is using gold (Au) electrodes. Herein, we investigate the sensor's response using aluminum (Al) electrodes as a cost-effective alternative, considering the fact that the electrode's work function is crucial in electronic device design, impacting device electronic properties and electron transport efficiency at the electrode–semiconductor interface. Therefore a comparison is made between SiNWs breath sensors made from both p-type and n-type silicon to investigate the effect of the dopant and electrode type on the SiNWs respiratory sensing functionality. A distinct directional variation was observed in the sample's response with Au and Al electrodes. Finally, performing a qualitative study revealed that the electrical resistance across the SiNWs renders greater sensitivity to breath than to dry air pressure. No definitive research demonstrating the mechanism behind these effects exists, thus prompting our study to investigate the underlying process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this research was to create injectable delivery formulations using Lactotransferrin (LTF) peptide-loaded dextran nanoparticles coated with docosahexaenoic acid. These nanoparticles, designated as LLDDNP, underwent a lyophilization process. The study encompassed a comprehensive investigation, including physicochemical characterization, in vivo assessment of biomarkers, and an examination of immune response through cytokine modulation. The zeta potential of LLDDNP was − 24.5 ± 12 mV, while their average particle size was 334.9 z.d.nm. The particles exhibited a conductivity of 2.10 mS/cm, while their mobility in the injectable dosage form was measured at − 3.65 µm cm/Vs. The scanning electron microscopy investigation, the lyophilization processes resulted in discrete particles forming particle aggregations. However, transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that LLDDNP is spherical and smooth. The thermogram showed that about 95% of LLDDNP's weight was lost at 270 °C, indicating that the particles are extremely thermal stable. The XRD analysis of LLDDNP exhibited clear and distinctive peaks at 2θ angles, specifically at 9.6°, 20.3°, 21.1°, 22°, 24.6°, 25.2°, 36°, and 44.08°, providing compelling evidence of the crystalline nature of the particles. According to proton NMR studies, the proton dimension fingerprint region of LLDDNP ranges from 1.00 to 1.03 ppm. The in vitro release of LTF from LLDDNP was found to follow zero-order kinetics, with a commendable R2 value of 0.942, indicating a consistent and predictable release pattern over time. The in vivo investigation revealed a significant impact of hepatotoxicity on the elevation of various cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8R, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ. Additionally, the presence of hepatotoxicity led to an increase in apoptosis markers, namely caspase 3 and caspase 9, as well as elevated levels of liver biomarkers such as CRP, ALP, ALT, and AST. In contrast, the treatment with LLDDNP modulated the levels of all biomarkers, including cytokines level in the treatment group extremely high significant at p < 0.001. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research focused on improving the nutritional quality of cupcakes by using micronutrient-rich vegetables, specifically purslane's leaves and stems. The purslane leaves and stems were sun-dried and analyzed for their proximate, mineral, and antioxidant potential. After conducting preliminary trials, flour blends supplemented with purslane powders ranging from 2 to 4% were evaluated for their rheological behavior and suitability in bakery cupcakes. The results indicated that purslane leaves and stems are a rich source of crude proteins (18.04 ±0.61 and 15.62 ±1.63%, respectively) and mineral contents, especially iron contents (214.28 ±123.13 and 243.37 ±5.25 mg/100 g, respectively). The powder retained a significant quantity of phenolic compounds and antioxidant potential after sun-drying. The rheological evaluation indicated the dose-dependent incremental response on dough development and dough stability time. Although cupcakes prepared with purslane leaves and stem powder received lower ratings than the control, statistically, the cupcakes supplemented with 2 to 4% purslane powder were on par with each other. In conclusion, purslane leaves and stems are a rich source of micronutrients and their incorporation in bakery products can improve the consumer's micronutrient intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buildings consume a significant 40% of global energy, where, reducing the building energy consumption to a minimum, virtually zero, has become a thriving research area. Accordingly, this research aimed to determine and portray the huge potential of energy conservation in existing structures by making a retrofit at relatively low costs in finance strained economies. A walk-through of the survey of energy consuming appliances determined the energy consumption based on the power rating; the appliances were then virtually replaced and the reduced energy consumption was determined in terms of the cooling loads. Modelling these intervention using the hourly analysis program (HAP) showed significantly positive results. The pre- and post-retrofit model analysis of an institutional building in Pakistan exhibited significant potential for reducing the cooling load of 767 kW (218 TON) to 408 kW (116 TON) with an investment payback period of 2.5 years. The additional benefit is the reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which reduce the overall energy requirements. The study continues with the design of a solar energy source using the system advisor model (SAM) for the reduced energy demand of a retrofitted building. It is then concluded that using the available area, a solar energy source with a capital payback period of 5.7 years would bring an institutional building within its own energy footprint making it a net-zero building, since it will not be consuming energy from any other source outside of its own covered area. The study has the limitation to exposure and climate related conditions. In addition, the decline in heating and cooling loads represents model values which may vary when calculated after an actual retrofit for the same structure due to any site related issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the surface morphology and growth process of SiGe nanoislands on TiO2 films, deposited over Si (001) substrates by high power impulse magnetron sputtering, followed by varying annealing parameters (i.e., 500–750 °C for 30 min to 20 h). Structural analysis was performed by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and grazing incidence x-ray diffraction. Two structural schemes were taken into consideration, i.e., SiGe grown over pre-annealed TiO2 (scheme I) and as-grown TiO2 (scheme II). Photoluminescence (PL) study of the structures revealed spectral features comprised of multiple peak features related to localized and surface states within the oxide layer, along with a peak due to the SiGe nano-islands. It was observed that the spectral feature and intensity depend on the surface morphology and the crystallinity of the underlying TiO2 layer. The structures were subjected to low temperature PL measurements, and the spectra were de-convoluted in order to validate the origin of the obtained spectra. Structural analysis revealed that pre-annealing the underlying polycrystalline TiO2 film, prior to deposition of SiGe layers (scheme I), facilitates the formation of SiGe nanoislands, preferably along the grain boundaries (due to their higher interfacial energy). In comparison, for the case of SiGe deposited over as-grown TiO2 (scheme II), annealing of the structure resulted in random distribution of nanoislands across the entire film. The size of the nanoislands grew with increased annealing time up until the point they started to coalesce, forming discontinuous SiGe layers and eventually leading to melting of the layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is centered on optimizing the mechanical properties of additively manufactured (AM) lattice structures via strain optimization by controlling different design and process parameters such as stress, unit cell size, total height, width, and relative density. In this regard, numerous topologies, including sea urchin (open cell) structure, honeycomb, and Kelvin structures simple, round, and crossbar (2 × 2), were considered that were fabricated using different materials such as plastics (PLA, PA12), metal (316L stainless steel), and polymer (thiol-ene) via numerous AM technologies, including stereolithography (SLA), multijet fusion (MJF), fused deposition modeling (FDM), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), and selective laser melting (SLM). The developed deep-learning-driven genetic metaheuristic algorithm was able to achieve a particular strain value for a considered topology of the lattice structure by controlling the considered input parameters. For instance, in order to achieve a strain value of 2.8 × 10−6 mm/mm for the sea urchin structure, the developed model suggests the optimal stress (11.9 MPa), unit cell size (11.4 mm), total height (42.5 mm), breadth (8.7 mm), width (17.29 mm), and relative density (6.67%). Similarly, these parameters were controlled to optimize the strain for other investigated lattice structures. This framework can be helpful in designing various AM lattice structures of desired mechanical qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, an eco-friendly technique was employed to devising undoped ZnO and Mg doped ZnO decorated with Ag nanoparticles by using leaf extract of ficus religiosa plant in which Ag is deposited by ultrasonic waves. The shape, chemical composition, morphology, size, structure, and optical properties were calculated with respect to pure ZnO and Mg-ZnO/Ag with various quantities of Mg (Mg: 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2%). X-ray diffraction analysis gave confirmation of hexagonal wurtzite phase of crystalline structure for ZnO component and rod, spherical, rectangular shapes for Mg-ZnO/Ag with crystalline size range 9 nm to 46 nm. SEM explore the crystalline morphology of Mg-ZnO/Ag at nanoscale regime, EDX confirmed the composition of prepared samples consist on Mg, ZnO and Ag, FTIR technique highlighted the presence and impact of various functional groups and PL explored the energy transfer pattern and recombination rate decrease and fluctuations. The band gap calculated reduced with doping of Mg from 3.64 eV to 3.27 eV explored by tauc plot. Photocatalytic activity was explored for all samples that revealed that the Mg-ZnO/Ag (1%) exhibited maximum degradation 93% for methylene blue and 87% for rhodamine B. Kinetic reaction of all fabricated samples and degradation efficiency was explored. Comparison was made to explore the optimal efficient photocatalysts for both dyes. Moreover, stability of Mg-ZnO/Ag checked after six cycles of regeneration was 83% for MB and 74% for RhB. Therefore, current work presented a novel doped nanocomposite that could be effective for reducing water pollution and various environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this research was to create injectable delivery formulations using Lactotransferrin (LTF) peptide-loaded dextran nanoparticles coated with docosahexaenoic acid. These nanoparticles, designated as LLDDNP, underwent a lyophilization process. The study encompassed a comprehensive investigation, including physicochemical characterization, in vivo assessment of biomarkers, and an examination of immune response through cytokine modulation. The zeta potential of LLDDNP was − 24.5 ± 12 mV, while their average particle size was 334.9 z.d.nm. The particles exhibited a conductivity of 2.10 mS/cm, while their mobility in the injectable dosage form was measured at − 3.65 µm cm/Vs. The scanning electron microscopy investigation, the lyophilization processes resulted in discrete particles forming particle aggregations. However, transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that LLDDNP is spherical and smooth. The thermogram showed that about 95% of LLDDNP's weight was lost at 270 °C, indicating that the particles are extremely thermal stable. The XRD analysis of LLDDNP exhibited clear and distinctive peaks at 2θ angles, specifically at 9.6°, 20.3°, 21.1°, 22°, 24.6°, 25.2°, 36°, and 44.08°, providing compelling evidence of the crystalline nature of the particles. According to proton NMR studies, the proton dimension fingerprint region of LLDDNP ranges from 1.00 to 1.03 ppm. The in vitro release of LTF from LLDDNP was found to follow zero-order kinetics, with a commendable R2 value of 0.942, indicating a consistent and predictable release pattern over time. The in vivo investigation revealed a significant impact of hepatotoxicity on the elevation of various cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8R, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ. Additionally, the presence of hepatotoxicity led to an increase in apoptosis markers, namely caspase 3 and caspase 9, as well as elevated levels of liver biomarkers such as CRP, ALP, ALT, and AST. In contrast, the treatment with LLDDNP modulated the levels of all biomarkers, including cytokines level in the treatment group extremely high significant at p < 0.001. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenol resins (PRs) are considered as relatively inexpensive adsorbents synthesized from agricultural biomass via employing a variety of synthesized procedures. The performance of PR for heat transformation application is not widely investigated. In this regard, the present study aims to evaluate the four PR derivative/refrigerant pairs, namely (i) KOH6-PR/CO2, (ii) SAC-2/HFC, (iii) KOH4-PR/ethanol, and (iv) KOH6-PR/ethanol, for adsorption cooling and adsorption heating applications. Ideal cycle analyses and/or thermodynamic modelling approaches were utilized comprising governing heat and mass balance equations and adsorption equilibrium models. The performance of the AHP system is explored by means of specific cooling energy (SCE), specific heating energy (SHE), and coefficient of performance (COP), both for cooling and heating applications, respectively. It has been realized that KOH6-PR/ethanol could produce a maximum SCE of 1080 kJ/kg/cycle and SHE of 2141 kJ/kg/cycle at a regeneration temperature (Treg) and condenser temperature (Tcond) of 80 °C, and 10 °C, respectively, followed by KOH4-PR/ethanol, SAC-2/HFC-32, and KOH6-PR/CO2. The maximum COP values were estimated to be 1.78 for heating and 0.80 for cooling applications, respectively, at Treg = 80 °C and Tcond = 10 °C. In addition, the study reveals that, corresponding to increase/decrease in condenser/evaporator pressure, both SCE and SHE decrease/increase, respectively; however, this varies in magnitude due to adsorption equilibrium of the studied PR derivative/refrigerant pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports the efficient excitation of surface plasmons polaritons (SPPs) by optimizing the geometrical parameters of M o S 2 -Au to increase the efficiency of plasmonic-based photovoltaic cells. This technique is quite useful for near-field and far-field analysis which is direly needed to understand the associate phenomenon. The impact of Au nano-grating on light absorption by using the plasmonic effect of noble metals has been investigated. We proposed a simple geometry for enhancing the coupling efficiency between the multilayering of M o S 2 and Au noble metal thin film by varying the slit widths (270–480) nm and material thickness (40–50) nm, while the periodicity was kept constant (720 nm) for unit cell. The efficient SPP excitation occurs at slit widths, near half, and few more than half of periodicity (360–420) nm. Resonance wavelength at different slit widths has also been observed. Efficient SPP excitation tends to increase the electric field around the slit, hence increasing the substrate ability to absorb light. For material thickness 40 nm and 50 nm, it has been observed that changing y-component of electric field (E y) in solar cell is effective in achieving greater absorption. The geometry has been simulated by using COMSOL Multiphysics RF module. This study will have significant impact for enhancing the coupling efficiency of the incident light into SPPs which have potential application to enhance the efficiency of the plasmonic-based solar cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of an antiviral agent research is to find an antiviral drug that reduces viral growth without harming healthy cells. Transformations of the virus, new viral strain developments, the resistance of viral pathogens, and side effects are the current challenges in terms of discovering antiviral drugs. The time has come and it is now essential to discover a natural antiviral agent that has the potential to destroy viruses without causing resistance or other unintended side effects. The pharmacological potency of thymoquinone (TQ) against different communicable and non-communicable diseases has been proven by various studies, and TQ is considered to be a safe antiviral substitute. Adjunctive immunomodulatory effects in addition to the antiviral potency of TQ makes it a major compound against viral infection through modulating the production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species, decreasing the cytokine storm, and inhibiting endothelial dysfunction. Nevertheless, TQ's low oral bioavailability, short half-life, poor water solubility, and conventional formulation are barriers to achieving its optimal pharmacologic benefits. Nano-formulation proposes numerous ways to overcome these obstacles through a small particle size, a big surface area, and a variety of surface modifications. Nano-based pharmaceutical innovations to combat viral infections using TQ are a promising approach to treating surmounting viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is a key element in water resources management and crop water requirement which, in turn, affects irrigation scheduling. ETo is subject to the influence of various climatic parameters including minimum temperature (Tmin), maximum temperature (Tmax), relative humidity (RH), windspeed (WS), and sunshine hours (SH). Usually, the influence of the climatic parameters and a dominating climatic factor influencing ETo is estimated on yearly basis. However, in diverse climatic regions, ETo varies with the varying climate. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the spatiotemporal variation in the influence of the climatic parameters on ETo in Punjab, Pakistan, for the period 1950–2021, specifically focusing on decennial, annual, and monthly patterns. The study area was divided into five agroclimatic zones. The Penman–Monteith model was used to estimate ETo. The influence was assessed using geographic weighted regression (GWR) and multiscale geographic weighted regression (MGWR) as the primary methods. As per results from MGWR, ETo in Punjab was highly influenced by the Tmin, Tmax, and WS. Additionally, annual ETo exhibited a higher value in southern Punjab in comparison to northern Punjab, with a range of 2975 mm/year in the cotton–wheat zone to 1596 mm/year in the rain-fed zone. Over the course of the past seventy years, Punjab experienced an average increasing slope of 5.18 mm/year in ETo. Tmin was the highest monthly dominant factor throughout the year, whereas WS and SH were recorded to be the dominant factor in the winters, specifically. All in all, accurate estimation of ETo, which serves as an essential component for crop water requirement, could potentially help improve the irrigation scheduling of crops in the agroclimatic zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine aggregate plays a key role as a filler material in concrete's fresh and hardened properties. Generally, in Portland cement concrete aggregate occupies 70-85% by weight and 60-70% by mass. In Pakistan, Lawrence pur the sand as the only sand that meets the ASTM standards. But due to heavy transportation costs, it is not cost-effective to use in most parts of the country. The tests were carried out in accordance with ASTM standards, and the concrete mix designed with three water-cement ratios of 0.40,0.45, and 0.50 called for a mixing procedure. At 28 days of curing, an M30 concrete mix comprising five control mixes including parent concrete was evaluated and compared to parent concrete. This experimental work aimed to enhance the fresh and hardened properties of concrete such as the workability of concrete mix, compressive, and flexural strengths by using locally available Jhelum River sand gradation crushed sand (passing sieve #4, the waste product of Sargodha coarse aggregate), s a fine aggregate material. Using six sigma DMAIC Methodology 9 defects in the Jhelum River sand and control mix have been identified and corrective measures were taken to improve the quality of the concrete mix. The results derived from this experimental work show that adding 50% crushed sand in Jhelum River sand increases compressive strength by 27% and flexural strength by 20% which makes it according to ASTM Standards. The use of crushed sand as an alternative to natural river sand efficient and safe material. This control mix also reduces the construction cost by 10% in comparison to lawerancepur sand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to understand and elaborate on the impact of energy management through the use of solar energy systems in the industrial sector over the economic growth of developing countries. This study is based on Pakistan where the concept is in the infancy stage. Therefore, the significance of the study has many folds as the study will not only reflect the contemporary use of solar panels in the industrial sector but also reflect vividly upon the implications of the concept regarding the eastern and developing markets. The study collected data from employees of the energy sector to test the claim with a non-probability sampling technique and analysis has been made through incorporating SMART-PLS. The findings of the study reflect that there is a definite association between the use of solar panels in the production sector on energy efficiency as well as the sustainable economic growth of the country. Hence the study is also beneficial for fostering research work as well as to optimize the policy formulation for the use of solar energy systems in the production sector of developing countries of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dr. A.B. Ashraf is a well-known and well-grounded researcher of Urdu literature. He is an authentic critic, fiction writer, travel writer and educationist. B. Ashraf's pen sketches are outstanding. The main reason for its popularity is pen sketches of ancient and modern poets, scholars and writers. By his pen portraits, B. Ashraf gave new breaths to the ancient civilization, culture of Multan, both classical and modern poets. His readers are privileged to know the history of Multan by his pen portraits. Humorous incidents, ironic statements and exquisite dialogues make them captivating. "Kesy Kesy Log" is the masterpiece of Dr.A.B. Ashraf. The depiction of writers, the magnificent combination of Siraiki and Urdu phrases, dance, ecstasy, charm of literary gatherings, alluring imagery, elegant style and poetic episodes enhance its excellence. This magnum opus is of great importance in preserving the name of Dr. AB Ashraf alive and exuberant in the tradition of Urdu pen sketching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystalline silicon (c - Si ) thin film solar cell with one-dimensional (1D) sinusoidal grating has been simulated to explore the absorption enhancement, by utilizing COMSOL Multiphysics Rf Module ( 5.3 a ). The finite element analysis (FEA) is applied to optimize the geometrical parameter of 1D sinusoidal grating, i.e., slit width (w ) and film thickness (t ), for enhancing the light absorption. The slit width is optimized by implementing near-field analysis and far-field analysis at constant periodicity (700 nm). To study the appropriate value of gold (Au) film thickness for the optimization of the grating device, the transmission spectra ( λ , a ) have been calculated for different Au film thicknesses while shedding light into the device at normal incidence keeping periodicity and slit width constant. The proposed 1D sinusoidal grating offers maximum optical coupling efficiency of 88.5%, with the relative transmission of 0.022 ( a. u ) at 350 nm optimal slit width. It divulges the fact that such a grating device exhibits less scattering of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) from the grating profile as it supports the most efficient mode (fundamental plasmonic mode), leading to more absorption in a thin active layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defects present at the surface or within the bulk of halide perovskites act as a barrier to charge transfer/transport, induce nonradiative recombination thereby limit open‐circuit voltage (VOC), and accelerate degradation in the perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Passivation of these defects at surfaces, interfaces, and grain boundaries to suppress the charge recombination is therefore imperative to improving photovoltaic performance in the PSCs. Herein, a facile posttreatment of perovskite surface by ethylenediamine (EDA) via mixed solvent vapor annealing method is reported. The results show that only a trace amount of EDA causes significant suppression of nonradiative recombination leading to over 100 mV increased VOC and ≈22% improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the inverted PSCs. The key reasons for this improvement are an upward shift in the Fermi energy level, reduced lattice strain and Urbach energy, and reduction in nonradiative recombination upon EDA passivation. These lead to a PCE exceeding 20% up from 16% for a nonpassivated film. The unencapsulated EDA‐modified PSCs also demonstrate an improved shelf‐life and retain 87% of the initial PCE after 850 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs) have gained significant attention due to their various physical and chemical properties; however, there is a gap in the study of NGQDs' magnetic properties. This work adds to the efforts of bridging the gap by demonstrating the room temperature paramagnetism in GQDs doped with Nitrogen up to 3.26 at.%. The focus of this experimental work was to confirm the paramagnetic behavior of metal free NGQDs resulting from the pyridinic N configuration in the GQDs host. Metal-free nitrogen-doped NGQDs were synthesized using glucose and liquid ammonia as precursors by microwave-assisted synthesis. This was followed by dialysis filtration. The morphology, optical, and magnetic properties of the synthesized NGQDs were characterized carefully through atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM)), UV-VIS spectroscopy, fluorescence, X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The high-resolution TEM analysis of NGQDs showed that the NGQDs have a hexagonal crystalline structure with a lattice fringe of ~0.24 nm of (1120) graphene plane. The N1s peak using XPS was assigned to pyridinic, pyrrolic, graphitic, and oxygenated NGQDs. The magnetic study showed the room-temperature paramagnetic behavior of NGQDs with pyridinic N configuration, which was found to have a magnetization of 20.8 emu/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement is a key component of concrete; its qualities impact the properties of concrete created using a particular type of cement. In Pakistan, cement brands are used for an enormous amount. As a result, the cement qualities must fulfill the standards defined by the rules. This research compares the chemical properties of Paidaar, Lucky, DG, Fauji, and Bestway cement brands. This research compares the chemical properties of Paidaar, Lucky, DG, Fauji, and Bestway cement brands. The chemical analysis of cement was used to compute the compound composition of C3S, C2S, C3A, and C4AF. It was discovered that the Al2O3 and SO3 levels in Paidaar and Fauji cement exceeded the specified limits. The presence of more SO3 causes sulphates in cement to expand. Furthermore, a study of four key components (C3S, C2S, C3A, and C4AF) revealed that Paidaar, Lucky, and Fauji cement have less C3S and more C2S, as a result, when compared to other cement brands, it has the lowest strength. When different brands' chemical compositions were compared, the Paidaar, Lucky, DG, Fauji, and Bestway cements fulfilled the standards' recommended ranges. To ensure the quality specified by the standards, Paidaar, Lucky, and Fauji cement require significant quality control during the manufacturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are leading cause of unintentional injuries and death across the globe. Road traffic crashes (RTCs) are neglected public health issue specially in low and middle income countries. Aims: The study aims to investigate risk factors of RTCs and assess quality of pre and post hospital care. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan from July 2022 – December 2022. Randomly selected 300 patients were interviewed using structured questionnaire at four purposively selected major tertiary care hospitals of Lahore. Binary logistic regression was used to find association between risk factors and injury severity (P < 0.05). Results: Data analysis showed that age groups 16–30 years (27%), older than 55 years (27%) comprised substantial proportion. A total of 65% RTCs attributed to human errors/factors. Most road crash victims (88% and 87%, respectively) were not wearing helmets and didn’t hold a valid driver's license. According to injury severity score, 75% of victims had severe injury. Odds of severe injury were more among aged more than 55 years and human error attributed RTCs. There was significant gap between perception and expectation of patients receiving healthcare services (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This is first study in Pakistan that examine quality of pre and post hospital care of RCVs. Significant quality gaps were found in pre and post hospital care of RCVs as per Servqual model that need to be addressed. Serious efforts are required to reduce growing burden of RTCs in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are leading cause of unintentional injuries and death across the globe. Road traffic crashes (RTCs) are neglected public health issue specially in low and middle income countries. Aims: The study aims to investigate risk factors of RTCs and assess quality of pre and post hospital care. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan from July 2022 – December 2022. Randomly selected 300 patients were interviewed using structured questionnaire at four purposively selected major tertiary care hospitals of Lahore. Binary logistic regression was used to find association between risk factors and injury severity (P < 0.05). Results: Data analysis showed that age groups 16–30 years (27%), older than 55 years (27%) comprised substantial proportion. A total of 65% RTCs attributed to human errors/factors. Most road crash victims (88% and 87%, respectively) were not wearing helmets and didn’t hold a valid driver's license. According to injury severity score, 75% of victims had severe injury. Odds of severe injury were more among aged more than 55 years and human error attributed RTCs. There was significant gap between perception and expectation of patients receiving healthcare services (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This is first study in Pakistan that examine quality of pre and post hospital care of RCVs. Significant quality gaps were found in pre and post hospital care of RCVs as per Servqual model that need to be addressed. Serious efforts are required to reduce growing burden of RTCs in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cubosomes are lipid vesicles that are comparable to vesicular systems like liposomes. Cubosomes are created with certain amphiphilic lipids in the presence of a suitable stabiliser. Since its discovery and designation, self-assembled cubosomes as active drug delivery vehicles have drawn much attention and interest. Oral, ocular, transdermal, and chemotherapeutic are just a few of the drug delivery methods in which they are used. Cubosomes show tremendous potential in drug nanoformulations for cancer therapeutics because of their prospective advantages, which include high drug dispersal due to the structure of the cubic, large surface area, a relatively simple manufacturing process, biodegradability, ability to encapsulate hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and amphiphilic compounds, targeted and controlled release of bioactive agents, and biodegradability of lipids. The most typical technique of preparation is the simple emulsification of a monoglyceride with a polymer, followed by sonication and homogenisation. Top-down and bottom-up are two different sorts of preparation techniques. This review will critically analyse the composition, preparation techniques, drug encapsulation approaches, drug loading, release mechanism and applications relevant to cubosomes. Furthermore, the challenges faced in optimising various parameters to enhance the loading capacities and future potentialities are also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) in Pakistan is the backbone of agriculture in the country. The IBIS provides irrigation support to agricultural lands across the country; however, hydraulic efficiency of the water conveyance system is impacted due to seepage losses. The lining of irrigation channels is considered a potential solution for improving hydraulic efficiency. Therefore, this study explores the impact of canal lining on the hydraulic efficiency of the canals in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Overall, 14 channels/distributaries/minors (total length 226 km) were monitored in terms of hydraulic performance in different irrigation zones. Hydraulic, geometrical, and socioeconomic parameters of channel/distributaries/minors including roughness coefficient, sediments, flow velocity, wetted parameter, breaches, theft cases, bed, side slope, water surface profile, hydraulic radius, crop yield, and vegetation growth area have been experimentally observed. Obtained results have been compared with the design and pre-lining data. Ten seepage tests using the inflow -outflow method and eight seepage tests using the ponding method were conducted to estimate seepage losses. Results indicate that almost all the parameters varied from the design values. A detailed comparison of the socioeconomic parameters has been carried out. Results from seepage tests show an approximately 78% reduction in losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current project was designed to prepare an oil-in-water (oil/water) hypericin nanoemulsion using eucalyptus oil for the preparation of an oil phase with chitosan as an emulsion stabilizer. The study might be a novelty in the field of pharmaceutical sciences, especially in the area of formulation development. Tween® 80 (Polysorbate) was used as the nonionic surfactant. The nanoemulsion was prepared by using the homogenization technique, followed by its physicochemical evaluation. The surface morphological studies showed the globular structure has a nano-sized diameter, as confirmed by zeta size analysis. The zeta potential analysis confirmed a positive surface charge that might be caused by the presence of chitosan in the formulation. The pH was in the range of 5.14 to 6.11, which could also be compatible with the range of nasal pH. The viscosity of the formulations was found to be affected by the concentration of chitosan (F1-11.61 to F4-49.28). The drug release studies showed that the presence of chitosan greatly influenced the drug release, as it was noticed that formulations having an elevated concentration of chitosan release lesser amounts of the drug. The persistent stress in the mouse model caused a variety of depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors that can be counteracted by chemicals isolated from plants, such as sulforaphane and tea polyphenols. In the behavioral test and source performance test, hypericin exhibited antidepressant-like effects. The results show that the mice treated for chronic mild stress had a considerably higher preference for sucrose after receiving continuous hypericin for 4 days (p = 0.0001) compared to the animals administered with normal saline (p ≤ 0.0001) as well as the naïve group (p ≤ 0.0001). In conclusion, prepared formulations were found to be stable and can be used as a potential candidate for the treatment of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to evaluate the performance of evaporation-assisted humidification–dehumidification (E-HDH) desalination, specifically direct evaporative (DE-HDH), indirect evaporative (IE-HDH), and Maisotsenko evaporative (ME-HDH) systems. To achieve this, a thermodynamic modeling approach is utilized, which incorporates the wet bulb effectiveness method, psychrometric relationships of humid air, and equations that govern heat and mass balance. The key performance indicators of the studied E-HDH desalination systems are estimated concerning operating parameters. The results show that the ME-HDH system is capable of producing a comparatively higher water production rate (WPR) ranging between 0.01 and 7.92 g/s as compared to the DE-HDH and IE-HDH systems. The sensible cooling flux was observed to be high at a dry-bulb temperature (Tdb) of 50 °C and relative humidity (RH) < 0.2, having a value of 5.26 kW for the DE-HDH system, followed by the ME-HDH system (3.23 kW) and the IE-HDH system (3.11 kW) due to relatively high mass flow rates. The latent heat flux was observed to be relatively high in the case of the ME-HDH system. Minimum specific energy consumption was observed from the ME-HDH system, and consequently, a maximum gain output ratio (3.32) was realized. In addition, the study realized that an increment in air velocity and wet bulb effectiveness significantly improves the WPR. In accordance with the climatic conditions of the studied Saudi Arabia cities, it has been realized that Al-Hofuf and Riyadh produce relatively high WPRs with minimum energy consumption. In the case of Al-Hofuf, the average WPR was recorded as 185.51 kg/day, followed by Riyadh (180.33 kg/day). The energy required was estimated to be 0.042 kWh/kg and 0.034 kWh/kg for both cities, accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]