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Green nanotechnology has gained significant attention recently in a variety of industries. Its focus is on producing nanoparticles (NPs) of a small size. It is also less harmful to human health and the environment. In Pakistan, Heliotropium eichwaldi(HE), a herbaceous plant, is extensively found. Many therapeutic qualities have been reported for the genus Heliotropium. The herb has been traditionally used to treat ulcers, headaches, and earaches. The purpose of this work is to create a simple and reliable process for the synthesis of Ag/Au bimetallic NPs (Ag-Au NPs) using HE extracts. After that, the effects of Ag-Au NPs will be examined, including their ability to scavenge free radicals and inhibit the two enzymes, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and alpha-amylase (α-amylase). The Ag-Au NPs were characterized using FT-IR, XRD, EDX, SEM, and UV–visible spectroscopy. The Ag, Au, and Ag-Au bimetallic NPs underwent XRD analysis, which showed a face-centered cubic crystal structure with an average size of 6 nm. Ag-Au NPs exhibit rod-shaped morphologies, according to SEM. Of the Ag-Au NPs, the elemental Ag signal was 4.20% and the elemental Au signal was 26.65%. The Ag-Au NPs showed remarkable inhibitory activity against AChE, α-amylase, and free radicals. According to our research, Ag-Au NPs can be successfully generated and go on to become important antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-Alzheimer agent compounds. Nonetheless, more research is advised to reduce any possible hazards.

Fibre-Metal Laminates (FMLs) are a class of advanced hybrid materials consisting of a metal layer and fibre-reinforced polymers that give an excellent combination of mechanical properties. The present study deals with the development and characterization of copper-based FMLs developed through the hand layup method by considering multiple stacking sequences for improved mechanical properties and by incorporating carbon nanotubes. Extensive tensile, flexural, fatigue, and wear tests were carried out on the FMLs. SEM analysis was also done to investigate the fracture. According to the test results, in the Type III stacking sequence where optimum 0.5% CNT content is used, the best overall tensile strength together with good flexibility, fatigue resistance, and wear resistance could be obtained. The Type III stacking sequence exhibited a maximum tensile strength of 117.85 MPa, flexural strength of 168.0 MPa, and fatigue life of 22,00,000 cycles at 50 MPa stress amplitude. Further SEM analysis has shown that enhancement in microstructural integrity actually occurred with the inclusion of CNT, especially in fiber-matrix bonding improvement and reduction of voids. The results obtained in this work indicate the suitable possibility for application in high-performance aerospace and automotive industries of copper-based FMLs. This study highlights optimization issues related to both material composition and stacking sequence toward the attainment of superior mechanical properties in FMLs.

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Global challenges in environmental protection, social welfare, and economic growth necessitate increased energy production and related services. Biofuel production from waste biomass presents a promising solution, given its widespread availability. This study focuses on converting highly potent Carthamus tinctoriusL. seed oil (51 % w/w) into sustainable biofuel using a novel, highly reactive, recyclable, and eco-friendly bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) nano-catalyst derived from Cannabis sativaL. leaf extract. The physio-chemical properties of the synthesized biodiesel were analyzed using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Additionally, the green Bi2O3nanoparticles were characterized through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Diffraction X-Ray (EDX), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Optimal conditions for biodiesel production were determined using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in combination with Central Composite Design (CCD), focusing on molar ratio, catalyst loading, and reaction duration. The highest output (94 %) of C. tinctorius-derived biodiesel (CTBD) was achieved under the following conditions: a temperature (75 °C) for time duration (100 min), a methanol to oil ratio (6:1), and a catalyst loading (0.69 wt%). The resulting biodiesel met international standards, with a sulphur content of 0.00097 wt%, and an acid value of (0.34 mg KOH/g). This study demonstrates that converting C. tinctoriuswaste seed oil into clean bioenergy is an effective waste management strategy that minimizes environmental impact.

Exosomes are nanoscale membrane bound vesicles secreted by almost all types of cells. Their unique attributes, such as minimal immunogenicity and compatibility with biological systems, make them novel carriers for drug delivery. These native exosomes harbor proteins, nucleic acids, small molecule compounds, and fluorogenic agents. Moreover, through a combination of chemical and bioengineering methodologies, exosomes are tailored to transport precise therapeutic payloads to designated cells or tissues. In this review, we summarize the strategies for exosome modification and drug loading modalities in engineered exosomes. In addition, we provide an overview of the advances in the use of engineered exosomes for targeted drug delivery. Lastly, we discuss the merits and limitations of chemically engineered versus bioengineered exosome-mediated target therapies. These insights offer additional options for refining engineered exosomes in pharmaceutical development and hold promise for expediting the successful translation of engineered exosomes from the bench to the bedside.

Dihydropyrimidinone skeleton (DHMP) plays a vital part in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry as its derivatives exhibit a broad spectrum of anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. Taking into account the biological significance of DHPMs, organic chemists have developed different methodologies to synthesize these biologically active target molecules. Our review focuses on the one-pot synthesis of dihydropyrimidinones via Biginelli reaction by using the efficient catalysts and reaction conditions, thereby covering the literature published since 2021.

Background:Healthcare at home is considered a partial substitute for institutional long-term care, because patients and families with known poor prognoses prefer to stay home with their loved ones and are unable to pay for hospital care at the end of life in some countries.Purpose:To explore patients’ and family members’ perspectives and experiences of receiving home-based palliative care services.Method:This was a qualitative exploratory study conducted in Karachi, targeting patients and family members receiving home-based palliative care services. The data collection was done via interviews, and simultaneously, the interviewer recorded field notes, which were all carried out within the confines of the participants’ homes. Moreover, the subjects were recruited through purposive sampling, resulting in a total of six patients and six family members. The final number of participants was determined based on data saturation. The inclusion criteria encompassed individuals of all genders, aged 18 and above, and residents of Karachi, Pakistan. Those who were not able to provide information, due to any reason, were excluded from the study. The study adhered strictly to ethical considerations.Findings:The study uncovered several significant themes that provide valuable insights, including caregivers’ availability, patients’ inclusiveness, improved dietary pattern, psychological wellbeing, and rapid recovery in home-based care. Furthermore, the study identified themes on providing home-based palliative care, like family members’ education and keeping back-ups for unforeseen situations. In contrast, the themes identified as home-based care preference over hospital care were: experienced compromised care, hospital anxiety, restricted to the available resources and higher hospital living expenses for patients and family members.Conclusion:The study underscored the importance of adopting a patient-centric approach. It has become evident that the comfort and familiarity of one’s home environment provide a conducive backdrop for holistic healing and wellbeing.

Accepted by: Ali EmrouznejadThe environmental efficiency of industries plays an important role in economic development of countries. Accordingly, dividing the internal network structure of industries into two sub-processes, including green and operational stages, enables decision-makers to assess both of the efficiencies simultaneously. Such assessment can be implemented using a non-parametric methodology termed data envelopment analysis (DEA). Standard DEA models consider the whole system of decision-making units (DMUs) as a single process (i.e. black-box). The black-box approach ignores modelling of the internal network structure of the assessed DMUs. This issue tackled by network DEA models since it considers the internal network structure of DMUs. In the network DEA, the efficiency evaluation of system stages is essential to identify its overall efficiency, resulting to a multi-objective optimization problem. Therefore, the network DEA is a widely welcomed methodology proposed for solving multi-objective problems. This paper assesses the operational and environmental efficiencies of a network structure system by converting the multi-objective optimization problem into a linear single objective function. In this investigation, a technique of tri-objective function problem is proposed. The proposed technique transforms into a single objective function by keeping one objective function and shifting the other two objective functions into the model’s constraints. The applicability and usefulness of the proposed technique have been tested using a data set of 20 industries. The developed approach provides valuable evaluations to decision-makers to rank DMUs by considering their green and operational efficiency simultaneously.

Asia produces the majority of the world’s rice (Oryza sativa L.), one of the utmost vital fundamental food crops, with 90% of worldwide production. Because of increases in average temperature, climate change has a negative impact on rice yield. It is essential to develop such verities of rice that have potential to meet challenges of environmental changes like heat stress etc. This research was approved to investigate heat tolerance ability of rice genotypes on the basis of morpho-physiological attributes at the experimental field area of Islamia University of Bahawalpur. Using a randomized complete blocked design (RCBD) and two sets of plots (one in early sowing rice, other plot goes under late sowing rice condition) with five replications was applied to study 102 genotypes of rice under heat stress. The days to heading, days to maturity, no. of panicles, flag leaf area, grain weight per panicle, no. of grains per panicle, 1000 grain weight and grain yield per plant were positively correlated among themselves under both early sowing and late sowing conditions. Results revealed that, out of 14 principal components (PCs), the first five PCs were showed significant genetic variation under both conditions. The first five PCs displayed 71.1% and 68.9% total variance in the examined germplasm under early and late sowing locations respectively. Based on PCA, 05 heat-tolerant and five heat-susceptible genotypes were identified. There is a significant difference in all the studied rice morphological and physiological traits. Effect of high temperature (heat stress) was observed in both early (normal) and late sowing (heat stress) environments. As a result of these findings selection based on these qualities is not appropriate for heat tolerance. The best performing germplasm under heat stress can be a desirable genotype to generate high yield and used for future breeding programs and early sowing of rice genotypes recommended in this study will be effective for developing heat tolerant rice varieties.

High carbon content-activated carbon with high micro-porosity was prepared from thin walnut shell by pyrolysis process with chemical activation (using KOH), exhibiting the promising potential to be a very good adsorbent. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of activation temperature, holding time and impregnation ratio on moisture content, total carbon content, ash content, BET surface area, adsorption capacity, total pore volume and iodine absorption value. Design expert predicted 5500C activation temperature, 2.5 h holding time and 1:1 impregnation ratio as optimum conditions for development of activated carbon. The developed activated carbon was compared with market sample activated carbon for physico-chemical properties and surface characteristics. The developed activated carbon was characterized by high carbon content (80.06 %), BET surface area (735.36 m2/g), iodine absorption value (783.64 mg/g), adsorption capacity (201.31 mg/g), low ash content (5.01 %) and total pore volume (0.29). XRD patterns of activated carbon developed from thin walnut shell confirmed its highly amorphous structure. FTIR analysis indicated similarities in peaks at different wave numbers with no significant differences in both samples. SEM-EDX analysis revealed highly porous structure with high carbon, potassium elemental composition of developed activated carbon as compared to market sample.

Amanitasect. Validaeis the most speciose section of subgenus Amanitina.However, to date, no species belonging to this section have been reported from Jammu & Kashmir. In the present study, we report Amanita orsoniifor the first time in Jammu and Kashmir. The species has been found under Abies pindrowin a coniferous-dominated forest. Photographs and detailed morphological descriptions for this species are provided.

This study explores wormhole solutions by analyzing energy conditions within the framework of f(R,A)modified theory of gravity, which is derived from the inverse of the Ricci tensor. For this purpose, we consider a linear model, defined as f(R,A)=R+αA, where Rdenotes the Ricci scalar, αis the coupling parameter, and Arepresents the anticurvature scalar. We further introduce a specific form of shape function to examine the characteristics of energy conditions for the distribution of anisotropic matter. Moreover, we examine the behavior of shape function and energy conditions for both isotropic and barotropic matter content as well. Through the selection of suitable parameter values, it has been shown that energy conditions are breached in some specified regions, indicating the existence of exotic matter. The thorough analysis confirms the presence of wormhole geometries in f(R,A)gravity.

This study examines skeletal deformities in Labeo catla(Hamilton, 1822) (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) collected from Wainganga River near Pauni city, District Bhandara, Maharashtra. Morphological features of abnormal fish specimens were compared with those of normal fish from the same location. While no marked differences were observed in meristic characters, minor changes were noted in morphometric characters, particularly in the caudal peduncle region. Specifically, the distance between the post-anal fin and the base of the caudal peduncle was shorter in the abnormal specimen (15.4 mm, 4.78% of standard length) compared to the normal specimen (48.37 mm, 11.80% of standard length). Radiographic examinations were conducted to further analyze the deformities. Potential factors contributing to the deformities include insufficient essential nutrients, variations in water quality or chemical contaminants, and genetic mutations during larval development. The study discusses these potential causes and emphasizes the importance of such research in environmental monitoring. This study presents the first documented report of skeletal abnormalities in Labeo catlafrom the Wainganga River in Maharashtra, India.

Layered metal thio- and selenophosphates (MTPs) are a family of van der Waals gapped materials that exhibit a multitude of functionalities in terms of magnetic, ferroelectric, and optical properties. Despite the recent progress in terms of understanding the material properties of these compounds, the potential of MTPs as a material class yet needs further scrutiny, especially in terms of nonlinear optical properties. Recent reports of efficient low-order harmonic generation and extremely high third-order nonlinear optical properties in MTPs suggest the potential application of these materials in integrated nanophotonics. In this article, we investigate the high-order nonlinear response of bulk and exfoliated thin-film crystals of copper indium thiophosphate (CIPS) to intense mid-infrared fields through experimental and computational studies of high-order harmonic generation (HHG). From a driving laser source with a 3.2 μm wavelength, we generate odd and even harmonics up to the 10th order, exceeding the bandgap of the material. We note conversion efficiencies as high as 10–7measured for the fifth and seventh harmonics and observe that the harmonic intensities follow a power law scaling with the driving laser intensity, suggesting a perturbative nonlinear optical origin of the observed harmonics for both bulk and thin flakes. Furthermore, first-principles calculations suggest that the generation of the highest harmonic orders results from electron–electron interactions, suggesting a correlation-mediated enhancement of the high-order optical nonlinearity.

Over the last two decades, urban floods and their impacts have been on the rise worldwide, owing to both climatic changes and human activities. The present study examines different at-risk elements, such as residential, commercial, and critical facilities, to evaluate their multi-components of vulnerability to urban floods in Peshawar, Pakistan. Based on the impacts of urban floods, the weightage of each component of the vulnerability for the selected elements at risk is defined. This study presents and uses the modified Fisher's ideal quantity index to combine the different vulnerability components into a single value. Additionally, the Patnaik and Narayan vulnerability index is employed to generalize sector-wise vulnerabilities across the study area. The results show that the old physical infrastructure of commercial and manufacturing units in the Kohati Gate area is highly vulnerable to urban floods, while the residential units are the least susceptible due to their distanced location from the drainage system. In Hayatabad, encroachments along the torrent's sides, affecting housing and educational institutions, contributed to increased vulnerability to urban floods, despite their relatively lower physical vulnerability. The study provides a new platform for understanding the multi-components of vulnerability to urban floods and tackling the challenges posed by urban floods effectively.

The current study presents a systematic review of macroeconomic risk factors and stock market performance under the broader theme of multi-factor asset pricing or the Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT). Based on the review of relevant literature, the study summarizes key findings of different research works and identifies significant research gaps that need to be addressed by future research. It assesses the state of published work in the domain of asset pricing by systematically analyzing 116 research articles. The research works whose focal point has been asset pricing have been retrieved from leading databases and journals related to financial economics for the period 1976–2019. The study provides a comprehensive look at the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological (or empirical) developments and patterns prevalent at the aggregate level. The implications of the study hold key importance for academia or future researchers, policy-makers and most importantly the investors for guiding their investment decisions efficiently.

•TCR-triggered T-cell and Fc receptor–triggered NK-cell assays are most accurate for diagnosing defective cytotoxic lymphocyte exocytosis.•The standard K562 cell assay has high interindividual variability and is affected by expanded NK-cell subsets and transportation stress.

AbstractIn the ever-evolving field of drug discovery, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) with cheminformatics has proven to be a powerful combination. Cheminformatics, which combines the principles of computer science and chemistry, is used to extract chemical information and search compound databases, while the application of AI and ML allows for the identification of potential hit compounds, optimization of synthesis routes, and prediction of drug efficacy and toxicity. This collaborative approach has led to the discovery, preclinical evaluations and approval of over 70 drugs in recent years. To aid researchers in the pursuit of new drugs, this article presents a comprehensive list of databases, datasets, predictive and generative models, scoring functions and web platforms that have been launched between 2021 and 2022. These resources provide a wealth of information and tools for computer-assisted drug development, and are a valuable asset for those working in the field of cheminformatics. Overall, the integration of AI, ML and cheminformatics has greatly advanced the drug discovery process and continues to hold great potential for the future. As new resources and technologies become available, we can expect to see even more groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in these fields.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

The prevailing economic theory of development has traditionally linked the informal sector businesses with backwardness, under-development, and adherence to traditional practices. According to this theoretical framework, in order to foster development and modernization, it is believed that the informal sector should gradually disappear over time. However, the present research challenges this structuralist perspective specifically in relation to women-led enterprises operating in the informal sector in India. By analyzing data from two rounds of the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) conducted five years apart, the study reveals that not only have women-led enterprises in the informal sector experienced significant growth over time, but their level of technical efficiency has also increased. The research paper identifies the main factors contributing to both efficiency and inefficiency within these women-led enterprises. Furthermore, empirical investigations conducted in conjunction with this study validate the potential of the informal sector as a catalyst for women's empowerment in India. In conclusion, the study offers practical policy recommendations that support the growth and development of the informal sector in India.

In recent years, ceramic cells based on high proton conductivity have attracted much attention and can be employed for hydrogen production and electricity generation, especially at low temperatures. Nevertheless, attaining a high power output and durability is challenging, especially at low operational temperatures. In this regard, we design semiconductor heterostructure SFT-ZnO (SrFe0.3TiO3-ZnO) materials to function as an electrolyte for fuel cell and electrolysis applications. Using this approach, the functional semiconductor heterostructure can deliver a better power output and high ionic and proton conductivity at low operational temperatures. The prepared cell in fuel cell mode has demonstrated excellent performance of 700 mW cm–2and proton performance of 540 mW cm–2at the low temperature of 520 °C, suggesting dominant proton conduction. Further, the prepared cell delivers exceptional current densities of 1.18 and 0.38 A cm–2(at 1.6 and 1.3 V, respectively) at 520 °C in the electrolysis mode. Our electrochemical cell is stable in fuel and electrolysis mode at a low temperature of 500 °C.

ABSTRACTThis research aims to extend existing knowledge by conducting a systematic literature review (SLR) on budget participation (BP). A total of 118 articles were collected from three reliable datasets: Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect (1999–2023). The main items reviewed in this systematic review include existing theories, antecedents and consequences of BP, methodologies (analysis techniques, sample size, and sector), and regions of publication. The SLR revealed that various theories have been used to support hypotheses, and the majority of the articles used goal-setting theory. The analysis also shows that little attention has been given to antecedents, while most researchers focused on the consequences of budget participation. Most previous studies have been based on limited sample size, and there is a dearth of research on BP in certain regions, and structural equation modeling techniques were the most used research methodologies.

In the present work, the Inconel 625 material is utilized for processing on a wire electrical discharge machine. The zinc-coated brass wire is used as a tool electrode. The Taguchi mixed orthogonal L27 experimental design is developed to perform the experiments. The parameter was induced on normal and cryogenic material such as pulse on time (Ton), pulse off time (Toff), discharge current (Ip), wire feed (Wf), and wire tension (WT). The characteristics responses i.e., material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (Ra), and overcut (OC) were analyzed. The genetic algorithm (GA) was applied for the evaluation and measuring of fact, which determined its performance, and predicted facts were considered for particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique multiple objective problems. After the comparison, the facts predicted were analyzed for the response, which revealed the surface integrity and accuracy on the machined surface. The solution implied that applied PSO gives highly significant results on optimal setting parameters of WEDM machining. The 0.419 μm surface roughness has been obtained by a cryogenic process as compared to normal (0.880 μm). The material removal rate for the cryogenic process was found to have decreased in PSO by 21.18 % and in GA by 2.78 % in comparison to the normal process. The obtained results give the utmost measure for the suitability of time reduction and cost-cutting in productivity rate.

Introduction During Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging in the head and neck region of patients who are undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment, the different components of fixed orthodontic appliances can produce various metal artifacts which may degrade the diagnostic image quality in the region of interest. Therefore, the metal artifact reduction software (MARS) system can be used in most CBCT units to reduce the amount of artifacts generated from various fixed orthodontic appliance components including skeletal anchorage devices.Aims and Objectives The main purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of MARS system of a CBCT unit in reducing the amount of artifacts generated by various fixed orthodontic appliance components during CBCT imaging.Materials and Methods Four dental arch shaped phantoms that were fabricated along with different fixed orthodontic appliance components (metal bracket, molar band, transpalatal arch, mini-implant) underwent CBCT scanning without and with the MARS setting option. After using the MARS system of a CBCT unit, the reduction in the amount of artifacts that were generated by various fixed orthodontic appliance component was calculated by using Google Colab software that utilized Python code and OpenCV system to generate a binary mask image. The resulting mask image highlights the areas where artifacts are detected, allowing for further analysis or visual inspection. The contours found within the mask image represent the boundaries of the artifact regions.Results After calculating the percentage decrease in artifact area for each component of fixed orthodontic appliance, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was performed to compare the percentage decrease in artifact area for each component of fixed orthodontic appliances. *P-values are calculated using one-way analysis of variance (p< 0.05). The percentage decrease in artifact area for different components of fixed orthodontic appliance ranged from 39.67% to 48.58%. The stainless steel bracket showed the significant artifact area reduction with a mean percentage decrease of 48.58% as compared to other components.Conclusion The effect of MARS system in reducing the amount of metal artifacts generated varied according to the component type of fixed orthodontic appliance and, MARS system was more efficient for stainless steel brackets as compared to other components. CBCT imaging of head and neck region can be carried out without taking off the orthodontic appliances by applying MARS system which can significantly decrease the artifact area.