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Graphene oxide (GO) combined with transition metal sulfides has been identified as a promising approach for energy storage, offering improved properties over pure transition metal sulfides. In this work, a ternary heterostructure of MoS₂, CdS, and GO (MoS₂@CdS@GO) was synthesized via a hydrothermal method. The structure was characterized using XRD, XPS, EDAX, Raman spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, and TEM. TEM images revealed that CdS nanoparticles are surrounded by MoS₂ and GO sheets. UV analysis confirmed that adding MoS₂@CdS to GO reduced the band gap of the composite. Electrochemical testing of GO, CdS, MoS₂, MoS₂@GO, MoS₂@CdS, and MoS₂@CdS@GO showed that the MoS₂@CdS@GO composite achieved an impressive specific capacitance of 1262 F/g at a scan rate of 6 mV/s and retained 91 % of its capacitance after 5000 cycles. This was attributed to the enhanced performance of MoS₂@GO in combination with CdS, which provides greater ion buffering and better charge storage. In practical terms, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) utilizing MoS₂@CdS@GO showed 86.9 % capacitance retention after 5000 cycles and reached an energy density of 40.69 Wh/kg at a power density of 586.68 W/kg, highlighting its potential for energy storage devices.

Objectives: Trauma registries are essential tools for improving trauma care quality and efficiency, but many fail to capture long-term patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Focusing on these outcomes is crucial for understanding the extent of disability patients experience and identifying potential post-discharge interventions to optimize recovery. Studies reflecting the experience from low- and middle-income countries in this area are limited. Therefore, we aim to develop a digital trauma registry in Pakistan to prospectively capture patient-reported outcome measures at one, three, six, and twelve months post-injury. Methods: We will develop and implement a digital trauma registry at two tertiary care facilities in Karachi, Pakistan: Aga Khan University Hospital and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center. The registry will include all admitted adult trauma patients (≥ 18 years). Data collection will be conducted digitally using tablets, with mortality, level of disability, functional status, and quality of life as primary outcomes. Follow-up data will be collected through telephone interviews with patients and caregivers. We will employ descriptive statistics to summarize participant’s socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Additionally, we will perform survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models and utilize mixed-effects linear regression to adjust for potential confounders for primary outcomes. Discussion: The trauma registry will fill the current gap in knowledge regarding long-term outcomes among trauma patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study will delineate future direction for capturing post-discharge data, enhancing our understanding of recovery, and informing the design of interventions aimed at improving long-term outcomes.

Misfolding of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and its subsequent aggregation into toxic oligomers is one of the leading causes of Alzheimer's disease (AD). As a therapeutic approach, cyclic peptides have been modified in many ways and developed as a potential class of amyloid aggregation inhibitors. Head-to-tail cyclic peptides with alternating d, lamino acids inhibit amyloid aggregation significantly. On the other hand, excess deposition of copper, iron, and zinc enhances amyloid aggregation. Dysregulation of these metal ions in the brain triggers aggregation by binding to the Aβ peptide. Therefore, specific metal chelators have been developed for disrupting the Aβ-metal complex, thereby reducing toxicity and restoring metal ion homeostasis. Herein, we report the development of a head-to-tail cyclic peptidomimetic with a copper chelating ligand attached. The designed peptidomimetic inhibits amyloid aggregation significantly in a two-fold molar ratio to the Aβ peptide, as confirmed by the thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay, dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Congo-red stained birefringence studies. The chelating ligand attached to the cyclic peptide binds efficiently to Cu2+but weakly to Zn2+and Fe2+, thereby exhibiting profound selectivity, probed using UV-visible spectroscopy, thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay, tyrosine (TYR10) fluorescence assay, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The non-toxicity of the designed peptidomimetics and their ability to reduce aggregating Aβ-fragment induced cytotoxicity was confirmed by the MTT assay on the mouse neuronal cell line. Further, the molecular interaction between the peptidomimetics and the Aβ-fragment was confirmed by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) studies using fluorescently labeled analogs. Cytotoxicity and cell internalization were also confirmed. A preliminary mechanistic investigation indicates that the peptidomimetic works by a synergistic effect of conformational restriction and metal sequestration. Such peptidomimetics can shed light on the mechanism of aggregation and a novel therapeutic approach.

Purpose: Using three theoretical lenses − organismic integration theory (OIT), theory of values-belief-norm (VBN) and gender schema theory (GST) − this study aims to examine the effect of environmental factors (environmental attitude, environmental concerns, perceived environmental responsibility and peer influence) on consumers' intentions to purchase eco-friendly athletic wear. Design/methodology/approach: A sample of n= 380 Pakistani consumers was used to test hypothesized relationships. Data were analyzed through the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique using SmartPLS version 3.3.3. Findings: Findings suggest that environmental attitude, environmental concerns, perceived environmental responsibility and peer influence are positively associated with green purchase behavior. The moderating effects of individual green values were found statistically significant between peer influence and green purchase behavior. The data further revealed that the effect of environmental attitude, environmental concerns, peer influence and perceived environmental responsibility on green purchase behavior varies across the gender. Originality/value: This research is one of the first attempts to explore the effect of environmental motivational factors on consumers' intentions to purchase eco-friendly athletic wear using theories of OIT, VBN and GST. This study employs advanced analytical methods to perform multi-group analysis and establish the predictive relevance of the model, using PLS-SEM in sports management and marketing context.

Graphic abstract: Efficient storage of hydrogen is one serious impediment in using H2as an alternate clean fuel, at large scale, in the context of alarming levels of global warming and fast depleting fossil fuel resources. Herein, we report theoretical studies on some novel metal nitrides in order to probe its hydrogen storage potential. M2N4systems (where M = Li, Na, K) can store hydrogen around 5–12 H2molecules with an gravimetric density of 9–16.79 wt% and an average binding energy in the range of 0.06–0.30 eV/H2. It was found that among all the three metal nitrides Li2N4is found to possess highest binding energy and energy gap, whereas K2N4adsorbs maximum number of H2molecules.

Composts are considered to be one of the best soil amendments. However, the effects of composts with added polymeric materials on soil physical, hydraulic, and micromorphological properties have not been widely discussed. Changes in soil physical properties influence the numerous services that soils provide. We studied the impacts of composts with the addition of three different polymers (F1–F3) produced from polyethylene and thermoplastic corn starch on the physical, hydraulic, and micromorphological properties of two soils, a Cambic Phaeozem and a Luvic Phaeozem. Applying composts with polymers had limited or no significant effect on soil bulk density and porosity, but increased the field water capacity by 18%–82% and 3%–6% and the plant-available water content by 15%–23% and 4%–17% for the Cambic Phaeozem and Luvic Phaeozem, respectively. The application of composts with polymers had a greater effect on the Cambic Phaeozem than on the Luvic Phaeozem. It was suggested that the use of modified composts led to changes in soil physical properties and micromorphological features and this effect was dependent on the compost application rate. Composts made with the addition of composite synthetic and natural material-derived polymers during composting were found to be a composite mixture that can be successfully used in agriculture.

We developed a novel modified electrode based on Sb2S3-NiS2heterostructure for the electrochemical detection of carbendazim, mercury (Hg2+), and arsenic (As3+). XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, and XPS characterization techniques were employed to confirm the formation of Sb2S3-NiS2heterostructures. In comparison to other electrodes, the Sb2S3-NiS2modified electrode has a strong electrocatalytic performance towards carbendazim, Hg2+, and As3+detection. The Sb2S3-NiS2nanocomposite's superior electrocatalytic activity is ascribed to its high conductivity, charge capacitance, synergistic effect, substantial number of active sites, and metal trap centres. Electrochemical studies such as cyclic voltammetry, LSV, and DPV depict excellent sensing capacity of Sb2S3-NiS2for carbendazim, Hg2+,and As3+with an ultralow detection limit calculated as 0.42 nM, 8.3 nM, and 92 nM, respectively. This is much below the upper limit established by the World Health Organization and the US Environmental Protection Agency. The chronoamperometry response and reusability up to weeks suggest excellent and superior stability. Furthermore, the modified electrode successfully detected carbendazim in real samples of apple and tomato juices and Hg2+ions in the water of the Dal Lake. As far as we know, this is the first report on the Sb2S3-NiS2heterostructure's electrocatalytic capability. Hopefully, this study will provide new insight into the future fabrication and development of novel electrocatalyst materials.

Fluorescent carbon dot sensing probes have attracted much attention in recent times due to their amazing properties regarding chemical inertness, solubility, non-toxicity, optoelectronic behavior, and charge transport functionality. Herein, we report the green synthesis of lotus stem-derived carbon dots (LS-CQDs) from the naturally available lotus stem by a simple and economical hydrothermal method without the use of an oxidizing agent. HR-TEM and DLS measurements confirm the quasi-spherical shaped LS-CQDs, with a 2.5 nm average diameter. The LS-CQDs possess better aqueous dispersibility and stability due to the presence of hydrophilic hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amine surface functional groups, as manifested by FT-IR analysis. The LS-CQDs demonstrate excellent fluorescence properties that are sensitive to conditions of pH, time, and temperature. Furthermore, the prepared LS-CQDs display an interesting fluorescence “ON–OFF–ON” property. The LS-CQDs depict a selective and sensitive fluorescence quenching response in the presence of ferric ions. Moreover, the prepared LS-CQDs exhibit a quantum yield of about 0.44%. The LS-CQDs show an excellent sensing response with the limit of detection (LOD) equal to 0.212 ppm. The promising sensitivity and selectivity of LS-CQDs were utilized for the detection of ferric ions in the water samples collected from three polluted sources viz.lake water (Dal lake), underground water (tube well), and stream water. For all the collected water samples the results were reasonably good with the achievement of recovery factor above 1. Therefore, we strongly believe that the present study will serve as a good guiding star for the selective and sensitive detection of ferric ions from various polluted water bodies.

As a fascinating two-dimensional (2D) layered inorganic ion exchange material, zirconium phosphate (hereafter ZrP) has drawn interdisciplinary attention as an ion exchange material and a competent host for surface functionalization and intercalation. This is due to its captivating properties such as simple synthesis procedure, excellent ion-exchange capacity, excellent chemical, thermal, and radiolytic stability, tunable interlayer gallery, and good biocompatibility. Among all the well-known phases of ZrP, we restrict our discussion only to the alpha (α-ZrP) and gamma (γ-ZrP) phases for their efficient ion exchange performance and more tunable interlayer spacing. This review summarizes a panorama of the recent research progress on the synthesis, intercalation, and surface functionalization of ZrP with organic molecules, metal complexes, and metal ions for the design and fabrication of self-assembled monolayers, layer-by-layer assemblies, and nanocomposites. Within the confined gallery microenvironment of ZrP, usual molecules behave unusually with dramatic enhancement in the photophysical properties. The intercalation of metal complexes and their fascinating electronic properties will also be comprehensively highlighted in this review. Furthermore, for the first time, a cutting-edge advancement (2010 onward) of the versatile adsorption performance of ZrP-based materials for the uptake of toxic metal ions which include nuclear waste-related metal ions, heavy metal ions, and rare earth ions will be presented in detail. Last but not least, the review will conclude with the summary and future directions, which will provide new research opportunities for the development of ZrP based sustainable heterofunctional material.

Flexible perovskite solar cells (F-PSCs) have received much attention because of their exceptional potential in combining the high efficiency of perovskite materials with the adaptability of flexible substrates. This review sheds light on the dynamic and multifaceted landscape of F-PSC research, highlighting a range of cutting-edge configurations and strategies. Together, these strategies perfectly capture the unwavering dedication to improving PSC's flexibility, stability, and cost-effectiveness—a crucial pursuit in hastening their seamless integration into the main energy grid. The review outlines significant developments in various facets of F-PSC technology within this context. These encompass groundbreaking developments derived from various reports, such as optimizing tuning efficiency in F-PSCs, enhancing performance achieved through interfacial engineering in F-PSCs, and assessing stability in F-PSCs in terms of both environmental and mechanical factors. These many different lines of inquiry highlight the researchers' unwavering commitment to the constant development of F-PSCs. These technological advancements have the potential to reshape the renewable energy landscape as they continue to develop and mature, bringing us one step closer to the widespread adoption and use of sustainable and adaptable solar solutions. This in-depth analysis gives readers a tantalizing glimpse into the fascinating trends pushing F-PSCs to the fore of clean energy innovation.

Calliphoridae commonly known as blowflies, bluebottles, greenbottles, or carrion flies is a family of Diptera which are of immense importance in medical, veterinary, and forensic sciences. Many sampling methods are known for collecting blowflies but sweeping net is the most dominant method used for their collection. The present study compares sweep netting with the less common bait method and quantifies differences in species richness, Shannon's diversity, and Simpson's diversity using the Hill numbers approach. The sampling procedure yielded 2000 specimens out of which 744 were collected using a sweeping net method while as bait method yielded 1256 specimens belonging to 6 genera and 15 morphospecies, Lucilia sericata(Meigen 1826Meigen 1826) was reported as the most abundant species in sweeping net method while as Calliphora vicinaRobineau-Desvoidy 1830 was reported as most abundant species collected through the bait method. This study will be useful for the methodology of future field surveys.

Electrochemical sensing is emerging as a method of choice for the sensing and monitoring of contaminants in water. Various sensing platforms have been designed for sensing heavy metal ions and organic pollutants in water bodies. Herein, we report a new electrochemical platform that can be used for the detection of both heavy metal ions and nitro-based organic contaminants in water bodies. The electrochemical sensor uses a modified electrode based on Fe3S4-impregnated zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanoparticles synthesized by a simple ultrasonication method. The ZrP@Fe3S4nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized by power X-ray diffraction (PXRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and ζ-potential studies. The material exhibits an excellent electrochemical performance for the detection of Pb2+, Hg2+, nitrophenol, nitroaniline, and picric acid with low limits of detection of ca. 0.93, 0.70, 0.98, 1.10, and 1.53 ppm, respectively. Since ZrP@Fe3S4nanoparticles are magnetically recyclable, their adsorption capacity and recyclability have been thoroughly investigated for the uptake of Pb2+and Hg2+ions from contaminated water. We observed that the adsorption of Pb2+and Hg2+ions on ZrP@Fe3S4is best described by the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, with adsorption capacities of 219.44 and 118.4 mg/g, respectively. Similarly, the removal efficiency of ZrP@Fe3S4was found to be 91, 57.6, and 31.3% for nitrophenol, nitroaniline, and picric acid, respectively. Furthermore, the theoretical calculations using density functional theory (DFT) were carried out to find the adsorption energy, affinity, and point of adsorption, which are in line with the experimental results. DFT calculations further suggest that the incorporation of Fe3S4on ZrP improves the surface charge density and promotes efficient electron transfer between the electrode and the analyte. We have shown the real-time analysis of Dal lake water as a proof of concept, and the synthesized composite exhibits good recovery and promising results for metal ion sensing. ZrP@Fe3S4demonstrated an excellent cycling stability and long-term stability without noticeable degradation for 1 week.

Populusspp. belongs to the deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, primarily located in the Northern Hemisphere, including Trans-Himalayan, cold arid desert Ladakh. In Ladakh, it is predominantly cultivated in irrigated land patches along the riverbanks. This plant holds significant economic value as its wood is extensively used in furniture making and house constructions. Recently, a highly successful pest, identified as Pheosia albivertex(Hampson 1983), was observed infesting the Populusplantations, marking a new record of insect infestation. The pest causes complete defoliation, particularly during midsummer, which is the prime foliage period. The initial sighting of this insect occurred in Dyanguchay village, Suru-valley, Kargil district of UT Ladakh. However, during a thorough three-year and five-month investigation from April 2019 to August 2022, it was found spreading to neighbouring areas. Consequently, without timely control measures, it poses a significant threat to the popular plantation in Ladakh and other adjoining areas.

This in-depth analysis explores the many uses of perovskite nanorods (PNRs), which is a class of materials with remarkable optoelectronic characteristics that are produced by efficient synthesis methods. PNRs are remarkably versatile in various technological domains. The following are some of their most important applications. First, we have comprehensively described innovative/efficient manufacturing techniques that are used in order to produce high-quality properties PNRs materials. The high surface-to-volume ratio of PNRs and other optoelectronic characteristics are then useful in regards to raising solar cell efficiency. Furthermore, they are essential for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and photodetectors (PDs), which help in order to enhance the performance in these applications. PNRs can be used in solid-state lighting by taking advantage of their special optoelectronic properties. PNRs are appropriate for various sensing applications due to their high surface-to-volume ratio, which makes advanced sensing capabilities possible. Moreover, PNRs offer advantages in non-volatile memory applications due to their resistive switching behavior, which supports resistive random-access memory (RRAM) devices. PNRs hold potential for quantum optics and communication developments in specific applications, such as polarized light detectors and nanolasers. Continuous investigations proactively tackle these matters by withstanding obstacles to stability and ecological worries, which enable PNRs to reach their maximum potential in various technological uses. The key to realizing the enormous potential of PNRs across a wide range of applications is simply to unlock their door.

Background: The value of local and regional landscapes for avian conservation requires a thorough understanding of the diversity and structure of bird communities. Avifauna serves as an important biological indicator in monitoring the health of an ecosystem or environment. The present study was conducted to examine the relationship between avian diversity, richness, composition and habitat characteristics at the Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary. Results: Using geographic information systems and remote sensing techniques, we analyzed habitat heterogeneity based on land use and land cover classification. For sampling birds, extensive surveys were conducted in different land-use types from 2019 to 2021, following the line transect method. During the study period, 102 bird species were recorded from the five studied vegetation types of the study area, including one near threatened (Bearded Vulture) and one vulnerable (Kashmir Flycatcher) bird species. The highest numbers of avian species were recorded from the forest (71 species) (42.61 ± 16; mean ± SD) and the lowest from the rocky land-use type (12 species) (7.83 ± 1.95). The individual rarefaction and extrapolation curves showed higher species richness for forest and the lowest for rocky habitats. Numerous pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in species richness among studied habitat types, except for riverine vs. grassland, scrub vs. grassland and rocky vs. riverine land uses. The partitioning of the spatio-temporal β-diversity patterns revealed a relatively large contribution of the turnover component to the observed overall dissimilarity compared to the nestedness component. Conclusions: It can be concluded that avian communities in the Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary are influenced by habitat heterogeneity, topography, and the availability of water. The results of the present study indicate that the Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary provides an important habitat for the conservation of birds, as it harbors a rich avian diversity. The study is the first scientific survey of the avian habitat associations in the protected area and will serve as a baseline for future avian research, as well as for management implications in the region.

AbstractThe utilization of low cost, lightweight and high heat resistant composite materials is capturing more and more interest from advanced manufacturing industries. These industries are focusing on new type of advanced composite materials like textile composites for applications in aerodynamics systems, fluid dynamics systems, sport cars, wind energy defence integrated antennas (within soldier’s garment and armours for ballistic protection), transportation, construction, power generation sectors,rail, automobile, machine manufacturing etc. In this research, the composite sample specimens were developed under VARTM system by using JF 0/90° oriented as reinforcement agent with matrix material V.E. The developed sample specimens were tested to study comparative tensile behaviour with conventional composite materials. The result reflects that the developed specimen acquires major enhancement in tensile properties such as Tensile strength (Gpa) was improved in the range of 122.95–279.80%, Modulus of Elasticity [MOE (GPa)] was increased by 142.91–228.91%, Break Elongation was raise (%) by 289.90–425.90% and Shear Modulus (C) was enhanced from 846.69 to 1354.71%. During this do research it was also observed that the developed material was of ductile nature, and acquired significant enhancement in mechanical properties against closely related developed composite materials.

Transcription factors are very diverse family of proteins involved in activating or repressing the transcription of a gene at a given time. Several studies using animal models demonstrated the role of transcription factor genes in craniofacial development.

Synthesis and characterization of a new hybrid ion exchange material Zirconiumresorcinol Phosphate (ZrRP) is reported in this study. Synthetic conditions such as reactant concentrations and mixing volume ratio were varied to optimize the ion exchange properties of this material. The material has Na+ ion exchange capacity equal to 1.7 meq/g (dry). X-ray diffraction spectra suggest that it is amorphous in nature. This ion-exchanger was also characterization by SEM, IR and TGA-DTG. Various studies such as determination of ion exchange capacity, elution behaviour and pH titration has been performed for different metal ions such as K+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Mg2+, Ni2+, Cd2+. This material has potential application for removal of these ions from the aqueous systems. Effect of anionic (SDS) and nonionic (TX-100) surfactants has also been studied on the adsorption behavior of ZrRP. The material has been found to be selective for Mg2+and Cd2+. We also found that the material showed remarkable adsorption behavior towards some dyes like malachite green and methylene blue.

Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) is one of the most common craniofacial birth defects and little is known about its aetiology. Initial studies of cytogenetic analysis provided the clues for possible genes involved in the pathogenesis of NSCL/P. This approach led to the identification of SATB2gene on 2q32-q33. The aim of this study was to determine the association between SATB2mutations and NSCL/P.

Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of medical and dental practitioners towards the dental management of patients who are on anti-coagulant and/or anti platelet agents. Methods:This study was conducted in different hospitals/health centers of Riyadh and AlKharj cities, Saudi Arabia. Participants included practitioners working in government and private medical centers/hospitals. A self-administered questionnaire including details about the practitioners’ level of education and work experience was used. Participants were asked questions regarding dental management of patients on anticoagulant therapy and/or antiplatelet therapy. Result:A total of 650 self-administered questionnaires were distributed among dental and medical practitioners, of which, 543 were returned complete. Most of the participants were general (graduate) medical and dental practitioners (59.3%). 15.4% practitioners were in favor of continuing the antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication without alteration while 6.6% were unsure about stopping or continuing the medication. A less than half (35.3%) of the practitioners were using current guidelines for managing such patients. Dentist (58.6%) and medical practitioners (64.7%) felt that evidence based guidelines would be helpful in dental management of patients on antithrombotic therapy. Conclusion:Dentists and medical practitioners showed a wide range of approach in terms of knowledge related to management of patient taking anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet medication prior to dental treatment. There is a need to educate both medical and dental practitioners to use evidence based guidelines for management of such patients.

The zerovalent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) tend to agglomerate, therefore, exhibit reduced adsorption and catalytic activity. To overcome this, we decorate novel peach skin-derived fibrous biochar (FBC) with spherical nZVI to develop a sustainable and more robust nano-catalytic material. The nanocatalyst material, hereafter nZVI-FBC was well characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM, FE-SEM, TEM, HR-TEM, and XPS analysis. Furthermore, XRD, HR-TEM, and XPS analysis rationalize the surface passivation of nZVI to form nZVI@Fe3O4core-shell nanostructure. We applied nZVI-FBC particles for the superior photo-Fenton degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye and catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) as model contaminants. At optimum batch conditions, temp= 25 oC,initial MB concentration= 20 mgL-1,and pH= 4.5 ± 0.3,the photo-Fenton degradation of MB obey pseudo-first-order kinetic model with a qe,expvalue of 19.94 mgg-1. The LC-MS analysis confirms mineralization of MB and ESR studies demonstrate the presence of HO radical as a principal reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) studies rationalize the pseudo-capacitive nature of the nanocatalyst with biochar component acting as an electron-donating framework. The-nZVI-FBC exhibit a superfast and superior catalytic performance for the reduction of 4-NP to 4-aminophenol. The nZVI-FBC shows excellent stability and reusability over multiple catalytic cycles.

Staphylococcus aureus, one of the major pathogenic bacteria, is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The disease burden of staphylococcal infections is significant, which is primarily attributed to its adaptability and resistance to environmental stresses. S. aureus has the ability to develop multiple resistances to antimicrobial agents. These high resistances make pathogenicity of S. aureus one of the most complex mechanisms to understand and manage. Proteomic and bioinformatics approaches show great potential in exploring microbial adaptation strategies, ability to cause disease by pathogenic bacteria and the development of diagnostic tools. A summary of the latest developments in the application of ‘omics’ technologies to understand resistance mechanisms in S. aureus and their future role in antistaphylococcal vaccine and/or drug discovery is given here.

Because of energy crisis, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) limits the feasible utilization of water splitting. Herein, we report reduced graphene-oxide (rGO) with Iron-oxide (Fe3O4) nanostructures as highly active electrocatalyst for HER. As-prepared rGO@Fe3O4shows superior electrochemical responses to those of corresponding its monometallic rGO and Fe3O4. The overpotential of rGO@Fe3O4has been achieved as 300 mV at 10 mA/cm2current density with a Tafel slope of 80 mV/dec. The rGO@Fe3O4nanostructure has its stability for 24 h to reveal long term electrochemical performance.

The discourse on Kashmiriyat (or Kasheryut) was majorly invoked in the late twentieth-century Kashmir by diverse, often conflicting, ideological strands to legitimize their respective political positioning in the context of post-1947 political stirrings in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the discourse has remained shrouded in ambiguity owing to the multiple, disparate meanings and connotations attached to it. More commonly the term has been understood to imply a syncretic culture of Kashmir devoid of religious fundamentalism and exclusion.KLSo far as the historicity of Kashmiriyat is concerned, the existing scholarly writings on the discourse have tried to locate its origins in the medieval times when the interaction and subsequent synthesis occurred between Hinduism and Islam in Kashmir; a mystic manifestation, Rishism, is often referred as the best example of this ideational formation. However, the paper attempts to argue that while the idea of Kashmiriyat as syncretic culture of Kashmir devoid of religious fundamentalism holds ground, it cannot be clearly steered away from a particular religious affiliation altogether. Secondly, this paper challenges the existing historicity and ideational trajectory of Kashmiriyat and instead attempts to trace its genealogy to Kashmir’s ancient past.

Active nanocomposites synthesized by the electrochemical approach play a vital role in energy generation, conversion, and storage technologies. Recently, scientists began to explore the use of earth-rich transition metal-based materials to replace precious metal-based catalysts. Transition metals (TMs) based nickel (Ni) and their pnictides compounds such as phosphides and selenides exhibit good activity for hydrogen evaluation reaction (HER) and the entire water electrolysis process. In this study, we first prepared Ni(OH)2and grown its layer on Ni foam (NF) and treated it with selenide (Se) and phosphide (P) then nickel-based selenide-phosphide catalyst (Ni–P–Se) was prepared by simultaneous selenization and phosphidation process for the first time. The as-obtained composite was then analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), elemental mapping and transmission electron microscope (TEM) means to study the composition, structure, and micro-morphology of materials. Furthermore, we also observed electrocatalytic water splitting activity using electrochemical cell. The results of electrochemical tests depicted that the selenization and phosphidation treatments significantly enhanced the electrocatalytic HER activity of the starting materials. The overpotentials required for Ni–P–Se to reach 10 ​mA ​cm−2and 100 ​mA ​cm−2were only 242 ​mV and 282 ​mV. The Tafel slope of Ni–P–Se is 151 ​mV dec−1, which is lower than that of nickel phosphide, selenide, and hydroxide indicating that selenide-phosphide enhances the HER reaction kinetics of the material, which in turn increases hydrogen output rate as compared with previous studies.

The removal of potentially toxic metal ions such as Pb(II), Zn(II), and Cr(VI) has drawn immense attention because of their persistence and acute toxicological effects. In the present work, we report the preparation of a biocompatible L-cysteine capped Fe3O4nanoparticles (Fe3O4@L-Cys) under sonochemical conditions and evaluate its efficiency as an adsorbent for the removal of Pb(II), Zn(II), and Cr(VI) ions from the contaminated water. The adsorbent material displays promising results for decontamination of Pb(II) and Cr(VI) ions present in water samples collected from Dal Lake. Intriguingly, Fe3O4@L-Cys depicts a pH-guided removal of cationic (Pb2+and Zn2+) and anionic (HCrO4-) pollutants under competitive and non-competitive optimum batch conditions. We performed density functional theory (DFT) to gain more insight into the pH-dependent site preference for the uptake of Zn(II), Pb(II), and HCrO4-ions. At pH = 3.5, HCrO4-ions interact electrostatically with protonated amine (NH3+) groups, while at pH = 6.5 Zn(II), Pb(II) ions coordinates with carboxylate and amine groups. We first time demonstrated the in-depth interaction of HCrO4-with Fe3O4@L-Cys using DFT and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies and the results confirm the reduction of HCrO4-to Cr(III) ions. The batch experimental data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model with maximum monolayer capacity (qm) of 243.14, 237.37, and 170.63 mg g−1for Pb(II), Zn(II), and HCrO4-ions respectively. The Fe3O4@L-Cys nanoparticles show excellent stability and reusability over multiple cycles of sorption. We strongly believe that the present study will serve as a good guiding star for future research developments in water research and technology.

Abdominal tuberculosis is extremely common in developing countries such as Pakistan and India. The presentation is varied and nonspecific, making the diagnosis extremely difficult at times. This study was performed to find out the efficacy of diagnostic laparoscopy in establishing the histopathological diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis.

Chitosan is an excellent polymer that has been exploited for biomedical applications ranging from antimicrobial action to targeted drug delivery and tissue engineering. Chitosan has been chiefly used to develop formulations in the form of conjugates, nanoparticles, hydrogels and scaffolds. However, being a polyelectrolyte, the charge density and various physicochemical properties, such as solubility, viscosity, mucoadhesion, and swelling of chitosan, are extremely sensitive to variation in external conditions (e.g., pH and ionic strength of the medium). Therefore, this review discusses chitosan's physicochemical properties in the solution like solubility, viscosity, mucoadhesion, and swelling, which are a function of its polyelectric nature. Furthermore, the effect of specific parameters like pH and ionic strength of the medium on the polymer and nanoparticle synthesis's ionic character is also discussed. The formulation development process appears that the charge density on chitosan plays a crucial role in determining the final product's efficiency. Finally, we conclude that the effectiveness of cellular adherence of chitosan hydrogels or scaffolds, the biodistribution of nanoparticles, and the antimicrobial action of chitosan are all functions of its surface charge density.

An obituary for neurosurgeon and professor Bashir Amad, affiliated with Ittefaq Hospital Lahore in Pakistan, is presented.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the column on the professional jealousemia, published in February 15, 2014 issue.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article about the representatives of professional specialty organizations that need to input improvements to postgraduate training in different specialties, that was published in the April 15, 2013 issue.