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The aim of this work is to create the SEIQR model for COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. The inclusion of a quarantine compartment in the model’s architecture is crucial in halting the transmission of disease to the vulnerable class. Simulation had been run in two phases: Phase 1, which ran from January 4, 2020 to June 13, 2020, and phase 2, which ran from June 14, 2020 to March 6, 2021. The SEIQR model analysis yields local stability at the fundamental reproduction number and the disease-free equilibrium point when the next generation matrix approach is used. The reproduction number was determined to be 6.81 when γwas 2.0×10-9, 7.49 when γwas 2.2×10-9and 8.17 when γwas 2.4×10-9. The outcomes of the simulation unambiguously show that phase 2 is the point at which the optimal condition is reached. The most important thing for any disease is to have control methods. Sensitivity analysis has been done as part of control strategies, and after that, a fuzzy reproduction number control approach has been put into practice.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the amelioration of drought stress in Solanum melongenaL. cultivars (Arka Shirishand F1 hybrid) upon Piriformospora indicaapplication under greenhouse conditions. Two cycles of drought stress were induced to both cultivars of S. melongenaL. Piriformospora indica-colonized roots performed better as compared to uninoculated plants. An increase in root length (1.5-fold), shoot length (≅ 1.5-fold) and biomass (two fold) was observed with  Piriformospora indicatreated plants over untreated plants under drought stress. The percent colonization was found to be ≅ 75%, and the accumulation of proline was found to be the highest in the Piriformospora indicatreated S. melongenaL. plants. An increase in total chlorophyll, relative water content, guaiacol peroxidase activity and catalase activity was observed in P. indica-inoculated roots as compared to uninoculated roots. P. indica-colonized S. melongenaL. plants were able to tolerate two cycles of drought stress.

Tungsten oxide (WO3) and bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) are one of the most attractive combinations to construct an efficient heterojunction for photoelectrochemical (PEC) applications. Here, we report an all-solution-processed WO3/BiVO4heteronanostructure photoanode with highly enhanced photoactivity and stability for sustainable energy production. The vertically aligned WO3nanorods were synthesized on a fluorine-doped tin oxide/glass substrate by the hydrothermal method without a seed layer and BiVO4was deposited by pulsed electrodeposition for conformal coating. Owing to the long diffusion lengths of charge carriers in the WO3nanorods, the ability to absorb the wider range of wavelengths, and appropriate band-edge positions of the WO3/BiVO4heterojunction for spontaneous PEC reaction, the optimum WO3/BiVO4photoanode has a photocurrent density of 4.15 mA/cm2at 1.23 V versus RHE and an incident-photon-to-current efficiency of 75.9% at 430 nm under front illumination, which are a double and quadruple those of pristine WO3nanorod arrays, respectively. Our work suggests an environment-friendly and low-cost all-solution process route to synthesize high-quality photoelectrodes.

Herein, we report a new Na-insertion electrode material, Na2Ti9O19, as a potential candidate for Na-ion hybrid capacitors. We study the structural properties of nanostructured Na2Ti9O19, synthesized by a hydrothermal technique, upon electrochemical cycling vs Na. Average and local structures of Na2Ti9O19are elucidated from neutron Rietveld refinement and pair distribution function (PDF), respectively, to investigate the initial discharge and charge events. Rietveld refinement reveals electrochemical cycling of Na2Ti9O19is driven by single-phase solid solution reaction during (de)sodiation without any major structural deterioration, keeping the average structure intact. Unit cell volume and lattice evolution on discharge process is inherently related to TiO6distortion and Na ion perturbations, while the PDF reveals the deviation in the local structure after sodiation. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies further corroborate the average and local structural behavior derived from neutron diffraction measurements. Also, Na2Ti9O19shows excellent Na-ion kinetics with a capacitve nature of 86% at 1.0 mV s–1, indicating that the material is a good anode candidate for a sodium-ion hybrid capacitor. A full cell hybrid Na-ion capacitor is fabricated by using Na2Ti9O19as anode and activated porous carbon as cathode, which exhibits excellent electrochemical properties, with a maximum energy density of 54 Wh kg–1and a maximum power density of 5 kW kg–1. Both structural insights and electrochemical investigation suggest that Na2Ti9O19is a promising negative electrode for sodium-ion batteries and hybrid capacitors.

The average structure, local structure, and band structure of nanoparticles of photocatalyst Bi4TaO8Cl, an Aurivillius–Sillen layered material, has been studied by powder neutron Rietveld refinement, neutron pair distribution function technique, Raman scattering, and density functional theory calculations. A significant local structural deviation of nano-Bi4TaO8Cl was established in contrast to the local structure of bulk-Bi4TaO8Cl. Local structure was further supported by Raman scattering measurements. Through DFT calculations, we identify specific features in the electronic band structure that correlate lower secondary structural distortions in nano-Bi4TaO8Cl. Increased distortion of TaO6, decreased Ta–O–Ta bond angle, and increased octahedral tilt in the local structure of nano-Bi4TaO8Cl influence the band structure and the electron hole pair migration. Therefore, in addition to morphology and size, the local structure of a nanomaterial contributes to the photocatalytic performance. Trapping experiments confirm the role of superoxide radical in the photocatalysis mechanism of this material. Such studies help in developing new functional materials with better photocatalytic efficiency to address energy and environmental issues.

Each year an estimated 3.3 to 5.7 million pediatric eye injuries occur worldwide. It is widely reported that 90% of ocular injuries are preventable. Our aim was to identify legislation and policies, education, and mandatory eye protection strategies that have successfully contributed to reducing rates of children’s eye injuries. A literature search was conducted using the terms “pediatric” or “children” or “adolescent” and “ocular” or “eye” and “protection” or “injury prevention.” Articles were retrieved based on titles and abstracts and assessed in the context of our research question. Strategies identified aimed at reducing ocular trauma fell into 3 broad categories: legislation and policies, education, and personal eye protection. Policies including restrictions on the sale and supply of certain consumer products, mandatory vehicle seatbelts, and laminated windscreens in vehicles have assisted in reducing children’s eye injuries. Educational tools aimed at children and their caregivers have been effective in changing attitudes to eye health and safety. Effective pediatric eye injury prevention systems require a multifactorial approach combining legislation, policies, standards, education, and personal eye protection to limit exposure to ocular hazards. A paucity of standardized measurement and lack of funding have limited advances in the field of children’s eye injury prevention. Improved eye injury surveillance and research funding along with collaboration with health care providers are important components for strategies to prevent pediatric ocular trauma.

Piriformospora indica, a member of basidiomycota is an axenically cultivable endophytic fungus which exerts plant growth promoting effects on its host plant. P. indicais known to produce α-amylase and protease. Since the organism exhibits beneficial role in plant growth promotion, achieving high biomass is immensely essential. Hence to enable the commercial production, screening of medium components is a necessary step. The present paper investigates the screening of medium components using Plackett–Burman experimental design wherein the parameters such as α-amylase, protease and biomass have been examined. The parameters α-amylase, protease and biomass was found to vary from 0.25 to 0.45 mg−1 ml−1 min−1, 0.1 to 0.15 mg−1 ml−1h−1and 0.8 to 22.6 g l−1, respectively, in 16 runs which demonstrates the strong influence of the medium components.

This paper describes a ternary protein complex consisting of junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A), tetraspanin CD9, and αvβ3 integrin in endothelial cells. In this complex, CD9 links JAM-A to αvβ3 integrin to regulate basic fibroblast growth factor–specific mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, endothelial cell migration, and tube formation. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the signaling events during angiogenesis.

Owing to high dielectric constants and coupled magnetic properties at room temperature, multiferroics related materials have wide application in many fields like multi-layer ferroic capacitors and multifunctional devices. Nickel ferrite, barium titanate composite is prepared from co-precipitation method and sintered at high temperature (1273 K). Intrinsic stretching vibrations observed in FTIR spectra at 594 cm−1. X-ray measurements detected the presence of their single phases (tetragonal perovskite crystal). Variations of AC dielectric constant in these samples have been studied. The influence of the phase content on the dielectric constant and loss tangent conductivity was also studied. The AC measurement yields smaller variations at a low range of frequency and more variations in higher frequency ranges indicate amplification of confined states with the availability of large charge carriers. A magnetic measurement reveals that the soft ferromagnetic properties of 68.356 emu g−1and 20.465 emu g−1at room temperature.