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The implication of two-dimensional (2D) MXene and their composites as catalysts for hydrogen (H 2) and oxygen (O 2) production represents an exciting area of research with great potential to revolutionize the field of catalysis. Herein, we demonstrated a method for surface modification of V 2 CT x MXene nanosheets (NSs) as an effective bifunctional nanocomposite electrocatalyst for water-splitting applications. This method involves the careful adsorption of the Erbium (Er) onto V 2 CT x NSs. Nanocomposites of Er@V 2 CT x were prepared by the sonication method. The Er@V 2 CT x in weight percentage ratio (0.12:1) nanocomposite (labeled as) achieved overpotentials of 174 mV vs. RHE (Reversible hydrogen electrode) and 370 mV (vs. OER) at the Tafel slope of 107 mV/dec for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and 131 mV/dec for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) respectively, in 1.0 M KOH solution. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of pristine V 2 CT x and Er-decorated V 2 CT x (Er@V 2 CT x) nanocomposites revealed the presence of a 2D MXene structure with an increase in c-lattice parameter from 13.01 Å to 19.94 Å, indicating the successful adsorption of Er into MXene. Further, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrates that all samples have layered structures with evident sheet separation. The V 2 CT x MXene had strong electrical coupling, charge transfer, and contact, which resulted in substantially improved water-splitting performance, structural stability, and low charge transfer resistance, ultimately enhancing the catalyst's intrinsic activity. • Erbium-doped V 2 C: Novel nanocomposite for efficient water splitting. • Cost-effective synthesis of Er-doped V 2 C composite. • Erbium inclusion enhances active sites and catalytic performance. • OER at 10 mAcm−2: Tafel slope (131 mV/dec), overpotential (370 mV). • HER at 10 mAcm−2: Tafel slope (107 mV/dec), overpotential (174 mV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two strains identified as Nocardia caishijiensis (SORS 64b) and Pseudonocardia carboxydivorans (AGLS 2) were isolated as endophytes from Sonchus oleraceus and Ageratum conyzoides respectively. The analysis of their extracts revealed them to be strongly bioactive. The N. caishijiensis extract gave an LC 50 of 570 μg/ml −1 in the brine shrimp cytotoxicity assay and an EC 50 of 0.552 μg/ml −1 in the DPPH antioxidant assay. Antimicrobial activity was observed against Methicillin resistant Staphlococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 (14 mm), Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 706003 (13 mm), S. aureus ATCC 25923 (11 mm) and Candida tropicalis (20 mm). For the extract of P. carboxydivorans the EC 50 was 0.670 μg/ml −1 and it was observed to be more bioactive against Bacillus subtilis DSM 10 ATCC 6051 (21 mm), C. tropicalis (20 mm), S. aureus ATCC 25923 (17 mm), MRSA (17 mm), E. coli K12 (W1130) (16 mm) and Chlorella vulgaris (10 mm). The genotoxicity testing revealed a 20 mm zone of inhibition against the polA mutant strain E. coli K-12 AB 3027 suggesting damage to the DNA and polA genes. The TLC and bioautography screening revealed a diversity of active bands of medium polar and nonpolar compounds. Metabolite analysis by HPLC-DAD via UV/vis spectral screening suggested the possibility of stenothricin and bagremycin A in the mycelium extract of N. caishijiensis respectively. In the broth and mycelium extract of P. carboxydivorans borrelidin was suggested along with α-pyrone. The HPLC-MS revealed bioactive long chained amide derivatives such as 7-Octadecenamide, 9, 12 octadecandienamide. This study reports the rare actinomycetes N. caishijiensis and P. carboxydivorans as endophytes and evaluates their bioactive metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel actinobacterial strains, designated as E257T and K478T, were isolated from hyper-arid soil samples collected in Cholistan Desert, Pakistan. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA genes showed that strains E257T and K478T were assigned to the genus Motilibacter, being their closest relative M. rhizosphaerae RS-16T with 97.3% and 96.7% similarities, respectively. The sequence similarity between strain E257T and K478T was 98.9%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and phylogenomic analysis based on multiple genes of conserved core proteins exhibited that these two strains belonged to the genus Motilibacter and formed a robust cluster separated from the two type species of the genus Motilibacter. Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI), Average Amino acid Identity (AAI), digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values and Percentage of Conserved Proteins (POCP) calculated from the complete genome sequences indicated strains E257T and K478T were assigned into genus Motilibacter but clearly separated from each other and from the other species of the genus Motilibacter with values below the thresholds for species delineation. The two isolates were found to have chemotaxonomic, cultural and morphological properties consistent with their classification in the genus Motilibacter and also confirmed the differentiation from their closest species. The obtained results demonstrated that strains E257T and K478T represent two novel species of the genus Motilibacter , for which the names Motilibacter deserti sp. nov. (type strain E257T = JCM 33651T = CGMCC 1.17159T) and Motilibacter aurantiacus sp. nov. (type strain K478T =JCM 33652T =CGMCC 1.17229T) are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low value of the Seebeck coefficient of the order of few μV/K in inorganic conductors, semiconductors and conducting polymers has inspired the researchers to explore alternative thermoelectric materials. In this work, a novel class of ionogels (IGs) has been synthesized with the aim of developing high-performance thermoelectric materials. Chemically cross-linked ionogels were prepared by the immobilization of ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF 4) in polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) matrix using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the free radical initiator. The concentration of BMIMBF 4 in IGs was varied from 60 to 90 wt (wt. %). The impact of variation of ionic liquid content on the thermoelectric properties of ionogels was analyzed by measuring their thermoelectric properties. Thermal stability, glass transition temperature (T g), Surface morphology, microstructure, the crystallinity of IGs and nature of chemical interaction between the ionic liquid and polymer matrix were observed by performing TGA, DSC, FESEM, FETEM, XRD, and FTIR respectively. The ionic conductivities of neat BMIMBF 4 and IGs were determined by electrochemical spectroscopy using SI 1260 Impedance/Gain-Phase Analyzer. It is worth noting that ionic conductivity (49.41 mS/cm) of IG with 90 wt % of BMIMBF 4 is 10 times higher than the ionic conductivity of neat BMIMBF 4 (4.5 mS/cm). The origin of this promising achievement (very high conductivity) lies in the "breathing polymer chain model". The breathing in and out of polymer chains dissociates the ion aggregates resulting in a significant increase in ionic conductivity of IGs. A remarkably higher value of the Seebeck coefficient (2.35 mV/K) was achieved for IG with 60 wt % of BMIMBF 4 and defined as ionic Seebeck coefficient because of its origin from the diffusion of ions of the ionic liquid. Due to the positive value of ionic Seebeck coefficient (in an analogy to positive Seebeck coefficient of p-type semiconductors) we termed the ionogels as p-type chemically crosslinked ionogels. A decrease in glass transition temperature of IGs with an increase in ionic liquid content was observed from DSC curves corresponding to an increase in mobility of cations and anions. TGA analysis showed that the synthesized IGs were highly thermally stable up to 390 °C. FESEM and FETEM images revealed that ionic liquid is well confined in the PEGDMA scaffold. The results indicate that ionogels may serve as promising candidates for future thermoelectric applications and also opens the perspective of engineering ionogels with high Seebeck coefficients and electrical conductivities. Image 1 • Synthesis of novel ionogels by free radical polymerization of PEGDMA and BMIMBF4 (IL). • Very high value of ionic Seebeck coefficient 2.35 mV/K was achieved. • Ionic conductivity of ionogels is 10 times higher than that of neat BMIMBF4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unpacked milk consumption is common in developing countries like Pakistan, raising concerns regarding adulteration and pathogen contamination. This study analyzed market-sold unpacked milk samples (n = 40) from Faisalabad for qualitative, adulteration, and microbiological parameters and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli. The mean ± standard deviation for each component was determined: Fat% (4.22 ± 0.78), Solid-Not-Fat (SNF)% (7.98 ± 1.19), Protein% (2.96 ± 0.50), Lactose% (4.49 ± 0.70), Density (25.59 ± 3.81 g mL−1), Salts% (0.66 ± 0.08), Added water% (8.56 ± 9.72), Temperature (28.00 ± 1.67), and Freezing point (−0.52 ± 0.72). Adulterants such as sodium chloride, detergent, formalin, urea, carbonate, and hydro-peroxide, along with high heterotrophic bacterial load, were detected. Antibiotic resistance profiling of E. coli strains exhibited resistance, including Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) strains. These findings highlight compromised microbiological and hygiene standards in locally sold unpacked milk in Faisalabad, necessitating urgent attention to ensure public health safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]