Search

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) presents transformative opportunities for optimizing treatment outcomes and informing clinical decision-making. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the applications of AI/ML techniques in PD, focusing on their potential to predict clinical outcomes and enhance patient care. Materials and methods: This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines (2020), searching key databases for articles on AI and ML applications in PD. The inclusion criteria were stringent, ensuring the selection of high-quality studies. The search strategy comprised MeSH terms and keywords related to PD, AI, and ML. 793 articles were identified, with nine ultimately meeting the inclusion criteria. The review utilized a narrative synthesis approach to summarize findings due to anticipated study heterogeneity. Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies varied in sample size and employed diverse AI and ML techniques, reflecting the breadth of data considered. Mortality prediction emerged as a recurrent theme, demonstrating the significance of AI and ML in prognostic accuracy. Predictive modeling extended to technique failure, hospital stay prediction, and pathogen-specific immune responses, showcasing the versatility of AI and ML applications in PD. Conclusions: This systematic review highlights the diverse applications of AI/ML in peritoneal dialysis, demonstrating their potential to enhance predictive accuracy, risk stratification, and decision support. However, limitations such as small sample sizes, single-center studies, and potential biases warrant further research and external validation. Future perspectives include integrating these AI/ML models into routine clinical practice and exploring additional use cases to improve patient outcomes and healthcare decision-making in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of polymer flooding is challenging in harsh temperature and salinity conditions in Middle-Eastern carbonate reservoirs, as they can deteriorate the commonly used polymers such as Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide (HPAM). One solution to this issue is the use of newly developed Acrylamido-Tertiary-Butyl Sulfonate (ATBS) based polymers, which can endure adverse temperature and salinity conditions. However, they also tend to adsorb onto carbonate rocks with positive surface charge. This study aims to tackle the problem of high polymer retention by employing low-salinity polymer flooding. For that coreflooding experiments were conducted on an ATBS-based polymer in salinities ranging from 400 to 167,000 ppm using fully water-saturated cores and cores at residual oil saturation (Sor). The single-phase retention experiments determined polymer retention values of around 25 µg/g-rock when using diluted brines, which is about half of the retention values (47–56 µg/g-rock) observed with high salinity seawater (43,000 ppm) and formation water (167,000 ppm). Furthermore, the retention of the ATBS-based polymer was further reduced by 50% in the presence of oil compared to the experiments conducted in the absence of oil. The results demonstrated that an optimal salinity threshold of 10,000 ppm and lower yields significant improvements in the efficiency of polymer flooding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research work, the authors have developed a mathematical model to examine the interaction between dystrophin protein and tumor. The authors formulated a system of ordinary differential equations to describe the dynamics of the dystrophin-tumor interaction system. Jacobian matrix and Routh–Hurwitz stability techniques were used to determine equilibrium points, perform stability and bifurcation analysis, and establish the conditions required for the stability of the proposed model. Numerical simulations are performed using Euler's method to investigate the temporal evolution of the proposed model under different parameter values, such as tumor growth rate and feedback strength of dystrophin protein. The numerical results are presented in tables, and corresponding to each table, a graphical analysis is done. The graphical analysis includes creating phase portraits to visually represent stability regions around the equilibrium points, bifurcation diagrams to identify critical points, and time series analysis to highlight the behavior of the proposed model. The authors explore how variations in dystrophin expression impact tumor progression, identifying potential therapeutic implications of maintaining higher dystrophin levels. This comprehensive analysis enhances our understanding of the dystrophin-tumor interaction, providing a basis for further experimental validation and potential therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mix design of concrete is an important aspect that affects its strength and durability. This paper aims to revisit the existing mix design method given in IS 10262:2019 through a capacity-based approach. The approach involves identifying the possible failure modes in concrete and eliminating the undesirable ones leading to significant reduction in dispersion. This is accomplished by utilizing coarse aggregates that meet a specific minimum strength requirement or threshold (e.g., ~ 77 MPa for M95 grade of concrete), which is determined through a priori estimating the cohesion and friction angle of the concrete. The methodology to estimate the cohesion and friction angle from a single unconfined compression test is proposed based on the Mohr–Coulomb theory and using the orientation of failure plane of fractured specimen as a supplemental information from the same experiment. This paper also offers a simple and approximate test procedure to estimate the aggregate's compressive strength (~ 106 MPa in this mix design) reasonably which is essential for the capacity-based mix design. An experimental programme is also carried out to design the concrete mix using the proposed capacity-based approach. The results indicate that M95 concrete is achieved with a low standard deviation and coefficient of variation (~ 3%), falling in class of excellent quality control as per ACI 214R-11. This quality control is crucial in seismic structural design as variations in concrete strength is likely to negate the underlying principle of strong column–weak beam philosophy resulting in the triggering of undesirable shear modes of failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the feasibility of imaging amino-acid transport and PSMA molecular pathways in the detection of metastatic breast invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and if there is superior detection compared to standard-of-care imaging [computed tomography (CT)/bone scan, or 18F-FDG positron-emission-tomography (PET)-CT]. Methods: 20 women with de-novo or suspected metastatic ILC underwent two PET-CT scans with 18F-fluciclovine and 68Ga-PSMA-11 on separate days. Uptake per patient and in 3 regions per patient - ipsilateral axillary lymph node (LN), extra-axillary LN (ipsilateral supraclavicular or internal mammary), or distant sites of disease - was compared to standard-of-care imaging (CT/bone scan in 13 patients and 18F-FDG PET-CT in 7 patients). Results were correlated to a composite standard of truth. Confirmed detection rate (cDR) was compared using McNemar's test. Mean SUVmax of 18F-fluciclovine and 68Ga-PSMA-11 in the most avid lesion for each true positive metastatic region and intact primary lesion were compared by t-test. Results: The cDR for standard-of-care imaging was 5/20 patients in 5/60 regions. 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET-CT detected metastasis in 7/20 patients in 7/60 regions. 18F-fluciclovine PET-CT detected metastasis in 9/20 patients in 12/60 regions. The cDR for 18F-fluciclovine PET-CT was significantly higher versus standard-of-care imaging on the patient and combined region levels, while there were no significant differences between 68Ga-PSMA-11 and standard-of care imaging. 18F-fluciclovine cDR was also significantly higher than 68Ga-PSMA-11 on the combined region level. Mean SUVmax for true positive metastatic and primary lesions with 18F-fluciclovine (n = 18) was significantly greater than for 68Ga-PSMA-11 (n = 11) [5.5 ± 1.8 versus 3.5 ± 2.7 respectively, p = 0.021]. Conclusion: In this exploratory trial, 18F-fluciclovine PET-CT has a significantly higher cDR for ILC metastases compared to standard-of-care imaging and to 68Ga-PSMA-11. Mean SUVmax for true positive malignancy was significantly higher with 18F-fluciclovine than for 68Ga-PSMA-11. Exploratory data from this trial suggests that molecular imaging of amino acid metabolism in patients with ILC deserves further study. Clinical trial registration: Early phase (I-II) clinical trial (NCT04750473) funded by the National Institutes of Health (R21CA256280). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation evaluates three satellite precipitation products (SPPs), Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation (MSWEP), Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC), Climate Hazard Infrared Precipitation with Station Data (CHIRPS), and two reanalysis datasets, namely, the ERA5 atmosphere reanalysis dataset (ERA5) and Indian Monsoon Data Assimilation and Analysis (IMDAA), against the good quality gridded reference dataset (1991–2022) developed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The evaluation was carried out in terms of the rainfall detection ability and estimation accuracy of the products using metrics such as the false alarm ratio (FAR), probability of detection (POD), misses, root mean square error (RMSE), and percent bias (PBIAS). Among all the rainfall products, ERA5 had the best ability to capture rainfall events with a higher POD, followed by MSWEP. Both MSWEP and ERA5 had PODs of 70–100% in more than 90% of the grids and less than 35% of missing rainfall events in the entire Tamil Nadu. In the case of the rainfall estimation accuracy evaluation, the MSWEP exhibited superior performance, with lower RMSEs and biases ranging from − 25 to 25% at the annual and seasonal scales. In northeast monsoon (NEM), CHIRPS demonstrated a comparable performance to that of MSWEP in terms of the RMSE and PBIAS. These findings will help product users select the best reliable rainfall dataset for improved research, diversified applications in various sectors, and policy-making decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important and frequently reported issues in cloud computing is fault tolerance. Implementing Fault Tolerance (FT) in cloud computing is challenging due to the diverse architecture and the complex interrelationships of system resources. The primary objective of this article is to critically review and analyze the fault-tolerant models with two other related aspects, i.e., load balancing and scheduling which is the peak need of the time and was not adequately addressed in the recent related surveys. In this paper, we present the systematic and comparative analysis of these hybrid models highlighting their limitations in different parameters, cases, and scenarios. Our analysis reveals that Proactive, Reactive, and Resilient approaches are commonly utilized to address system failure in the cloud. Also, it was found that a thorough study of intelligent fault tolerance approaches, also known as resilient fault tolerance, was overseen to determine their efficacy over conventional approaches. Additionally, the survey includes the discussion part which presents a unique in-depth analysis of hybrid fault tolerant approaches with respect to the handling of different faults and parameters. To illustrate the reviewed observations, a detailed statistical analysis has been conducted and presented graphically to provide insights into the study and simultaneously highlight further research in this area. Our analysis includes the critical role of these hybrid fault-tolerant models in accomplishing high accessibility and reliability in emerging computing systems thereby providing valuable insights for future researchers of the field. We have also provided a broad roadmap that charts strategies for facing the discussed cloud challenges. The study provides valuable contributions to the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to minimize human impact on the environment, it is crucial to determine the best way to utilize land through assessments of its suitability. This research focuses on the Anantnag district in the Kashmir valley, exploring its potential as a suitable area for mulberry agroforestry. Consequently, the selection of suitable sites for mulberry-based agroforestry has become an essential element of sustainable land use planning and agriculture, with the aim of maintaining ecological equilibrium. In the context of a Geographic Information System (GIS), we employ a method called multi-criteria assessment to evaluate the suitability of a specific site for mulberry agroforestry in the study area. This assessment involves considering various factors such as slope, temperature, rainfall, land use and land cover (LULC), as well as the physical and chemical properties of the soil. To assign scores to these criteria, we utilized the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique, conducted interviews with local experts, and referred to existing literature. By applying a weighted overlay analysis, which takes into account the importance of each parameter, we generated a map depicting the suitability of the research area for mulberry agroforestry. The map for mulberry agroforestry suitability in the study area indicates that 16.59% of the land is highly suitable, 28.16% is moderately suitable, 40.29% is marginally suitable, and 14.96% is unsuitable. To ensure the accuracy of the findings, satellite images, Sentinel-2b LULC mapping, and GPS-enabled field surveys were extensively employed to verify the results. These findings can be utilized by farmers, regional developers, and the government to inform their decisions regarding potential mulberry agroforestry areas and develop sustainable agroforestry management strategies for the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, DFT studies were carried out of a novel Phenothiazine-based Fluorescent Probe (PFP) for its physio-chemical and thermodynamic properties. Various aspects were investigated including optimized geometry, frontier molecular orbitals, molecular electrostatic potential, density of states, UV-Vis emission spectra and reactivity parameters. DFT studies reveal that molecular modeling, including the optimization of molecular structures like PFP, is crucial for understanding complex molecules and their characteristics. The energy difference (∆E) between the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) and Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) was determined to be 4.48 eV. MEP maps indicate the nitrogen and sulfur atoms in the thiazine ring appear red, indicating high electron density. Similarly, the benzene rings appear blue thereby indicating lower electron density. The DOS spectrum confirmed the HOMO-LUMO gap and provided insights into the availability of electronic states at specific energy levels. High DOS intensity indicated many accessible states, while zero intensity indicated none. Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) calculations predicted the absorption maximum at 365 nm and emission spectra for PFP, with a calculated maximum emission at 656 nm. Coordination with water shifts the emission to 690 nm, showing a redshift of 44 nm. Moreover, the theoretically calculated maximum emission of probe PFP was determined to be λem = 656 nm, whereas maximum emission spectra of probe PFP with water coordination is calculated as λem = 690 nm which is red shifted 44 nm. These theoretically calculated values significantly deviate from experimental value. This deviation occured because the absorption and emission spectra recorded in solvents of different polarity result in different wavenumbers and intensities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper analyses the adsorbent properties of a unique biomass i.e. horse chestnut shell (Aesculus hippocastanum L) activated carbon synthesized by chemical activation of KOH produced under optimized carbonization conditions for Fe3+. Research was done to look into the characteristics of the made activated carbon and its systematic effects of process parameters. Characterizations like SEM, BET, FTIR, XRD, TGA, EDX, proximate and ultimate analysis, calorific value was performed. Also effect of process parameters like initial Fe3+ ion content, contact time, dosage and temperature of system was studied for mechanism of adsorption at pH (6) of Fe3+ in an aqueous solution. Data on equilibrium and kinetic isotherms from experiments were examined, for kinetics pseudo 1st order reaction, pseudo 2nd order reaction and intraparticle diffusion has been utilised. System was fairly fitted by pseudo-2nd-order reaction. Adsorption isotherms such as Halsey, Harkin Jura, Temkin, Freundlich, and Langmuir and Dubinin Radushkevich were used and Langmuir adsorption isotherm turned out best suitable match as R2 value was found out to be 0.99. The maximum Fe3+ adsorbing ability of the HCAC4 was 138.88 mg/g at 25 °C. Thermodynamical evaluation concluded the process to be spontaneous and heat-releasing. Highlights: Horse chestnut shell biomass was converted to activated carbon using KOH activation. Characterization (SEM, BET, FTIR, XRD, TGA, EDX) revealed favourable structural and compositional properties. Investigated effects of Fe3+ ion content, contact time, dosage, and temperature, achieving 138.88 mg/g adsorption at 25 °C. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm (R² = 0.99) best described the adsorption process. The process was spontaneous and exothermic, showing high potential for Fe3+ removal in water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) primarily affects pediatric patients. Data on the global incidence of DIPG remain sparse, especially in South Asia and low-middle-income countries like Pakistan. Methods: After exemption from the Ethics Review Committee, a retrospective study was conducted. Records of patients with DIPG at the Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi, from January 2010 to December 2022, were reviewed. Results: A total of 35 pediatric patients were managed for DIPG. The median age of the patients was 9, with 19 (54.3%) males and 16 (45.7%) females. Cranial nerve palsies were the most common complaint and were present in 19 (54.3%) patients, followed by headaches in 18 (51.4%), long tract signs in 14 (40%), ataxia/cerebellar symptoms in 14 (40%), and seizures in 5 (14.3%). MRI was the primary diagnostic tool, used alone or with CT in 32 (94.1%) patients; CT alone was used in only 2 (5.7%) patients. Biopsy was performed in 10 (28.6%) patients. Primary radiation therapy was administered to 14 (40%) patients with 5400 cGy in 30 fractions. All these patients received steroids while none of them received reirradiation. VP shunt surgery for hydrocephalus was performed in 9 (25.7%) patients. Over half (54.3%) refused treatment post-diagnosis, and 71.4% were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Providing timely, quality multi-disciplinary care to DIPG patients within resource constraints remains challenging in Pakistan. However, recent developments show promise for improving DIPG care in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulses are essential components of vegetarian diet and play a pivotal role in addressing malnutrition by providing a vital source of dietary protein. However, weed competition remains as a significant obstacle to blackgram (Vigna mungo L) production, resulting in 25 to 35% yield losses. A field experiment was carried out at the National Pulses Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vamban, Pudukkottai, India during Kharif seasons of 2020 and 2021, to assess the suitable post-emergence herbicides for appropriate weed control in blackgram grown under irrigated conditions. The experimental field was observed to contain notable grass weed flora, specifically Dactyloctenium aegyptium and Chloris barbata, as well as broadleaved weeds, such as Flaveria australica, Cleome gynandra, Eclipta alba, Convolvulus arvensis, Digera arvensis, Vicia spp., and Celosia argentea. The results demonstrated that among the chemical weed management methods, spraying of Fomesafen @ 220 g + Fluzifop p-butyl @ 220 g ha−1 at 20 days after sowing (DAS) as a post-emergence herbicide treatment exhibited superior weed control efficiency, recording 66.80% and 68.53% at 30 and 45 DAS, respectively and recorded higher seed yield of 1088 kg ha−1. Additionally, this method generated 8.1% higher net income and 12.5% more benefit–cost ratio than hand weeding, making it an economically profitable strategy for maximizing blackgram yield and effective labour management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the projected impact of air pollution on mortality and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) across SAARC countries. Utilizing Time Series and Machine Learning methodologies such as Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average, Exponential Smoothing, and Neural Network, the research aims to accurately forecast the mortality and DALYs attributed to air pollution from 2020 to 2030. Statistical analyses reveal a consistent upward trend in deaths and DALYs during the forecasting period, primarily driven by Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution (APM) and Ambient Ozone Pollution (AOP). Comparing the predictive accuracy of the models, Neural Network outperformed other methods, as indicated by Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values. Specifically, the study finds that deaths and DALYs due to Ambient Particulate Matter pollution are least prevalent in the Maldives, while India and Pakistan exhibit the highest rates, and deaths and DALYs due to Ambient Ozone pollution are lowest in the Maldives and highest in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Moreover, deaths and DALYs attributed to Household Air Pollution (HAP) are lowest in Pakistan and highest in Nepal. These findings underscore the urgent need for air pollution control measures and informed policymaking in SAARC countries to mitigate the escalating health burden associated with air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural loans are critically linked with agricultural productivity. Agricultural productivity has a significant dependency on climate contingencies. This motivates us to explore the impacts of the climate change on recovery of agricultural loans caused by losses in agricultural productivity. Using panel data from 82 districts of Pakistan over a period of 21 years, i.e., 2000–2020, we estimate the sensitivity of agricultural productivity to climate change in each district. Using these sensitivities, we then apply Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) Regression to estimate whether climate change sensitivities of agricultural productivity have any impact on the recoveries of agricultural loans across the sampled districts. We find that the impact of climate change on agricultural loan recoveries is asymmetric. Specifically, negative sensitivities to climate change result in lower recoveries, while positive sensitivities led to enhanced loan recoveries. Our study is unique as it provides evidence of the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity as well as loan recoveries in a set of district-level data. We built a unique climate change index to measure the level of climate change and also introduced a framework to measure climate change sensitivities of agricultural productivity in our sample districts. We believe that this novel approach is an addition to the existing literature on climate change. We suggest that while devising agricultural and credit policies the governments and banks must consider investing in educating the farmer's on climate change adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed radionuclide concentration in Murree's natural spring water and the variation of soil mass-attenuation coefficient. Water samples from 20 springs and soil from 15 sites were analyzed. Radium-226, Thorium-232, and Potassium-40 activity concentrations averaged 0.43 ± 0.09, 0.52 ± 0.08, and 1.52 ± 0.19 Bq/L, respectively. Radiation hazard indices, including Radium equivalent, External and Internal hazard indices, External and internal absorbed and equivalent doses, and lifetime cancer risk, were quantified but found non-alarming. Mass-attenuation coefficients for various energies were measured experimentally and theoretically. Various radiation shielding parameters were calculated. Murree's soil demonstrated lower attenuation properties compared to cement, tiles, concrete, and Egyptian soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between ethical leadership and employees' pro-social rule-breaking behavior, with a focus on the mediating role of psychological empowerment and the moderating effect of moral identity. Grounded in social cognitive theory, data from 515 nursing staff in public and private hospitals in Pakistan were collected at three different time points and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS SEM). Contrary to expectations, our findings reveal a positive association between ethical leadership and employees' pro-social rule-breaking behavior. Additionally, we find that psychological empowerment mediates this relationship, while moral identity moderates it. These results highlight the paradoxical nature of ethical leadership, challenging the conventional understanding of its universally positive impact and highlighting its unintended consequences. The results also underscore the need to consider employees' psychological processes and individual differences in understanding this complex relationship. The study provides insights into the complexities of ethical leadership in organizations and offers implications for theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial dyes from industrial sector contribute significantly to environmental contamination. This research work focuses on the elimination of synthetic anionic dye through batch investigation employing adsorption technique. Chemical Sol–gel synthesis approach was employed to synthesize the adsorbents. The novelty of this work involves the utilization of the following chemicals Ni(NO3)2, Cu(NO3)2, Fe(NO3)3, and Co(NO3)2 used as reducing metals to prepare metal-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (Co/ZnO, Ni/ZnO, Fe/ZnO, and Cu/ZnO). The synthesized metal-doped ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by using FTIR, BET, SEM and XRD, zeta potential analysis. The optimum pH for direct orange (RDO) dye was detected in an acidic range which was 7 for Co/ZnO (87.40 mg/g), 3 for Ni/ZnO (83.13 mg/g), 5 for Fe/ZnO (79.31 mg/g), and 5 for Cu/ZnO (69.41 mg/g). The optimum dosage for all nanoparticle was found 0.05 g/50 mL and showed best adsorption for Co/ZnO 86.78 mg/g, Ni/ZnO 78.54 mg/g, Fe/ZnO 70/mg/g, and Cu/ZnO 59.64 mg/g. The initial concentration of dye from 25 to 250 mg/L was determined to be optimal for the maximum remediation of anionic dye using several adsorbents. The best removal was achieved at 100 ppm by Co/ZnO (84.61 mg/g) and (Ni/ZnO), while Fe/ZnO (72.51 mg/g), and Cu/ZnO (68.65 mgg/g) achieved maximum adsorption capacity at 150 ppm. The highest adsorption capacity was found by Co/ZnO (90.31 mg/g) at 43 min, Ni/ZnO (81.31 mg/g) at 49 min, Fe/ZnO (78.75 mg/g) at 75 min, and by Cu/ZnO (71.75 mg/g) at 90 min with optimal temperature at 37 °C. A decrease in temperature resulted in decline of adsorption capacity of the adsorbents. It demonstrated the release of heat in the complex during the adsorptive removal of negatively charged RDO dye molecules. The Langmuir adsorption isotherms revealed the highest correlation with the equilibrium data, while the pseudo 2nd order model demonstrated an acceptable fit with the adsorption kinetic data. Various thermodynamic factors like enthalpy free energy and entropy were investigated. Highlights: Use of Ni, Cu, Fe, Co metals doped-ZnO as adsorbents to remove anionic dyes. Optimal dye removal conditions found: pH, temperature, dosage, time explored. Co/ZnO nanoparticles showed highest dye adsorption capacity in experiments. Study confirms Langmuir isotherm and pseudo 2nd order model fit for adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial activities are paramount to sustaining the economy in a rapidly developing nation and global powerhouse like India. Leather industries are important in the country's economic map due to the high revenue and employment generation opportunities. Several of these industries contribute largely to environmental pollution. The pollution of the environment is mainly caused by improper disposal of the tannery effluents that are highly rich in hexavalent chromium, a potent human carcinogen. Hexavalent chromium imparts toxic effects on the biotic components, which include plants, animals, and humans. The review portrays the current status of the Indian leather tanning sector and its impact on the Indian economy. The process of chromium tanning and its adverse effects on the environmental biotic components have been briefly discussed. Phytoremediation of these effluents using suitable hyperaccumulating plants has been suggested as an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach for the sustainable restoration of the polluted environment. The mechanism behind the remediation approach and the factors influencing it have been detailed. The manuscript briefly discusses some important advancements in the field of phytoremediation and emerging technologies and concludes by emphasizing further research for sustainable management of tannery wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water contamination is a serious issue that has an impact on the whole globe. In the current work, adsorption technique was used to remove synthetic Reactive Blue MEBF 222 textile dye utilizing Cd-doped Co (Co1 − xCd1.5xFeO3), Zn-doped Co (Co1 − xZn1.5xFeO3), Cr-doped Co (Co1 − xCr1.5xFeO3), Zn-doped Ni (Ni1 − xZn1.5xFeO3), and Cr-doped Ni (Ni1 − xCr1.5xFeO3) perovskites, synthesized by sol–gel auto-combustion approach. According to the findings of batch adsorption studies, maximum adsorption was observed at pH 3 (45.62 mg/g), 0.01 g/50 ml dosage (36.67 mg/g), 60 min (14.31 mg/g), 100 ppm dye concentration (47.41 mg/g), and 308 K (35.96 mg/g) for Co1 − xCd1.5xFeO3; at 3 pH (42.94 mg/g), 0.01 g/50 ml dosage (35.33 mg/g), 60 min (12.88 mg/g), 100 ppm dye concentration (40.52 mg/g), and 308 K (31.31 mg/g) for Co1 − xZn1.5xFeO3; at 2 pH (38.82 mg/g), 0.01 g/50 ml dosage (32.20 mg/g), 60 min (11.98 mg/g), 100 ppm dye concentration (33.54 mg/g), and 308 K (29.34 mg/g) for Co1 − xCr1.5xFeO3; at 2 pH (34.97 mg/g), 0.01 g/50 ml dosage (30.41 mg/g), 60 min (10.46 mg/g), 100 ppm dye concentration (27.19 mg/g), and 308 K (26.12 mg/g) for Ni1 − xZn1.5xFeO3; and at 2 pH (31.22 mg/g), 0.01 g/50 ml dosage (25.04 mg/g), 60 min (9.48 mg/g), 100 ppm dye concentration (21.73 mg/g), and 308 K (23.61 mg/g) for Ni1 − xCr1.5xFeO3. The pseudo-second-order model showed good fitness for adsorption kinetic data. Electrolytes, detergents/surfactants, and heavy metal ions had a substantial impact on the adsorption potential. The column adsorption experiments demonstrated optimal bed height, flow rate, and intake dye concentration to be 3 cm, 1.8 ml/min, and 70 mg/l, respectively, in the column experiment. With an adsorption capacity of 44.1 mg/g, reactive blue (RB) 222 dye was able to achieve its maximum adsorption. Detailed desorption of RB 222 dye was also achieved. The novelty of this adsorption method lies in its eco-friendliness, ease of handling, and cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disposal of waste at wild dumpsites poses significant environmental challenges. This study evaluates heavy metal (HM) contamination in soil around wild dumpsites in Bijeljina-Zvornik, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Forty-five soil samples were analyzed for Ni, Cr, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Fe, and Al. The highest concentrations observed were for Fe (average 9211.96 mg/kg, maximum 33,275.16 mg/kg) and Zn (average 109.76 mg/kg, maximum 1054.24 mg/kg). The highest daily total exposure dose (ADD) for both adults and children was for Fe, with ADDing for children at 7.07E-01 mg/kg/day and for adults at 3.03E-01 mg/kg/day. Hazard quotient (HQ) contributions to non-carcinogenic exposure risk (HI) were 99.93%, 0.02%, and 0.05% for children and 99.23%, 0.07%, and 0.70% for adults. The results suggest acceptable carcinogenic risk, with the highest carcinogenic risk (CR) observed for Cr, at 9.26E-05 for children and 4.67E-05 for adults. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model identified five contamination sources: geogenic, solid waste leaching, industrial waste, surface runoff, and agricultural practices. This analysis provides insights into the ecosystem risks posed by these metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of air pollution on health outcomes in Middle Eastern countries, a region facing severe environmental challenges. As such, these are important in an effort to add up to policy-level as well as interventional changes that can be put in practice in the area of public health. Numeration analysis and association with health parameters was carried out by using Analytical tools such as, AIR Data, ARIMA,ANN, SVM and Exponential smoothing. Amongst the models, Support Vector Machine came again on top, with high accuracy yielding Mean Absolute Percentage Error of approximately 1%. Mortality of Air pollution in Qat from the case of Mortality of Air Pollution in Qatar is 959 while Auto regressive Integrated Moving average is 11.096, Exponential Smoothing 9.892 and Artificial Neural Networks are the source of inspiration for the development of this paper 4.61. The above perceptions indicate that there is need to adapt modeling strategies depending on the context and establish that it is possible to implement ML models in public health planning basket. This paper publishes the methodological frameworks for the purpose of modeling and analysis of the EHDs and serves as policy prescription for the policy makers to intending to reduce the effects of air borne pollution on health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), a deciduous species plant, is widely distributed around the globe, and native to the cold-temperate regions of Europe and Asia. This medicinal herb contains several bioactive constituents including chlorogenic acid. The conventional methods used for the extraction of phenolic antioxidants from natural herbs often result in low yields, high toxicity, and pose environmental hazards limiting their effectiveness and scalability. Therefore, green extraction techniques using deep eutectic solvents, composed of natural, non-toxic, and biodegradable components were applied for extraction of chlorogenic acid from sea buckthorn weed. Fourteen deep eutectic solvent mixtures were prepared and evaluated for extraction yield of chlorogenic acid. Parameters such as hydrogen bond donor-to-hydrogen bond acceptor ratio, liquid-to-solid ratio, shaking speed, and shaking time were optimized for the best mixture. Results: The combination of lactic acid and maltose (1:1) was found to give best extraction yield using response surface methodology. The deep eutectic solvent system under optimum conditions produced 12.2 g/100 g of crude extract sea buckthorn containing 174.7 mg gallic acid equivalents (mg GA)/g) of extract. Moreover, the optimized extract exhibited appreciable radical scavenging capacity (91%), trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (11.2% of extract), and inhibition of peroxide in linoleic acid (80.6%). High-performance liquid chromatography-based characterization revealed the extracts contained chlorogenic acid (20.1 mg/g of extract) as the major constituent. Conclusions: In summary, the adoption of DES for the extraction of bioactive phenolic constituents from sea buckthorn offers multiple benefits, including economic efficiency, enhanced extraction performance, and environmental sustainability. The findings of this study not only advance the understanding of DES in phytochemical extraction but also pave the way for broader application of green solvents in the natural products industry. Future research should focus on further optimizing DES formulations and scaling up the extraction process to fully realize the potential of this innovative extraction method in commercial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated handwritten digit identification has become essential for many daily operations such as verifying the authenticity of a cheque or deciphering a postal code. Researchers have been putting a lot of effort into figuring out how to automatically recognize and sort handwritten digits because of the advent of robotic technology in recent decades. Due to the complexity of the Arabic language and a lack of publicly available Arabic handwritten digit datasets, previous research has primarily concentrated on automating the recognition of English and European digits on availability of relevant datasets. Arabic handwritten recognition also plays a significant role in electronic-learning (e-learning) systems. It has not taken into account the recognition of handwritten Arabic digits. Arabic handwritten digits vary in size, form, slant, and image noise, which can cause changes in numeral topology. These factors make it difficult to classify and recognize Arabic handwritten digits. In order to overcome these challenges, we implemented a biologically plausible technique to classify Arabic handwritten digits. The objective of the research is to address the unique challenges of style, size, shape, slant variations, and image noise of Arabic handwritten digits in classification and recognition. To categorize Arabic handwritten digits, we employed convolutional spiking neural network (CSNN) and spike neural network (SNN) models. The reason for using SNN and SCNN is that the second-generation neural networks accumulate accolades on various computer vision tasks, i.e., pattern recognition, segmentation, and classification. However, there are certain challenges, i.e., energy inefficiency and computational cost, presented by these networks. The spiking neural network models also address these issues. These models are low-power, high-performance neural network models. We trained the spiking neural network model on Arabic digit datasets using a rate-based, non-spiking algorithm, i.e., backpropagation and soft-LIF, then integrated them with a spiking neural network. We have also used an STDP (spike time-dependent plasticity)-based spiking neural network for Arabic digit recognition. We attenuate the spiking variability in CSNN by adding noise during training, compensating the training errors, and bringing robustness against the spiking variability. We experimented with soft-LIF, a non-spiking version of the LIF neuron, and a variant of STDP rules for Arabic digit classification. Experimental results illustrate that CSNN achieves high performance at a significantly low energy and computational cost. We attained 98.98% and 91.16% recognition rates for the Arabic digit dataBase (ADBase) dataset using the convolutional spiking model and STDP spiking model, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of people around the world have iron deficiency, which is one of several important nutritional disorders. Despite recent advances in the prevention and treatment of these deficiencies, it is estimated that over two billion individuals worldwide are at risk for vitamin A, iodine, and/or iron insufficiency. Many major health concerns can result from micronutrient deficits. Lack of iron, folate, B12, and A may cause anemia. Anemia causes weariness, weakness, breathlessness, and disorientation due to low red blood cell or hemoglobin levels. Biofortification, a way to make staple foods with more micronutrients, could help lower malnutrition. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can boost the amount of iron in edible plant tissues by making it easier for iron to get to those tissues. A pot experiment was conducted at ISES, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, to evaluate the impact of well-characterized rhizobacterial strains (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Bacillus simplex) alone and in combination with L-tryptophan (a plant growth regulator (PGR)) on agronomic, tuber, and nutritional attributes of potato. Results revealed that inoculation significantly enhanced the iron content of potato tubers compared to control plants. When rhizobacteria, L-tryptophan, and iron were added to the soil, the number of tubers grew by 68.24% compared to the control plants where neither PGPR nor PGR was applied. Biofortifying potatoes with microbes can help people get more micronutrients, especially in countries with few resources. These results showed that PGPR can help plants get more Fe from the soil if more Fe is added to the soil. These results provide support for the hypothesis that microbial aided biofortification in crops might reduce human micronutrient insufficiency, particularly in areas with little resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis, characterization and structural relevance of four new copper carboxylate complexes (1–4) has been presented here. The complexes have been synthesized by direct treatment of the substituted phenyl acetate and pyridine ligands in aqueous medium. The complexes were stable indefinitely with excellent yields and were characterized using spectroscopic and single crystal XRD techniques. FTIR spectroscopy revealed the bridging bidentate coordination mode for the carboxylate moiety in accordance to the actual structure revealed by XRD. Moreover, UV-Visible spectroscopic and cyclic voltammetric studies helped in their characterization and yielded signals which were typical of the copper(II) complexes. Successfully solved single crystal XRD data showed binuclear paddlewheel structures for all the complexes with both copper ions linked through four OCO bridges of ortho-methoxy phenyl acetate (1–3) and ortho-methyl-meta-nitrophenyl acetate (4). The geometry around each copper was distorted square pyramidal where the apical positions are occupied by meta-bromopyridine (1), meta-methylpyridine (2) and DMSO (3 and 4) molecules. The complexes exhibited excellent DNA-binding activity majorly via intercalation as revealed by four experimental techniques. This preliminary study showed that the synthesized complexes add to the existing treasury on the paddlewheel complexes. Air stable newly synthesized and purified crystalline complexes with their preliminary structural relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a numerical investigation focused on how roughness of surface affects the overall performance of a counter-flow microchannel heat exchanger (CFMCHE). The study examines various microchannel shapes, including triangles, squares, circles, and trapezoids, to evaluate their performance within the context of CFMCHE. Water with consistent properties flows through aluminum microchannels used as the working fluid. The analysis employs the roughness-viscosity method to assess how surface roughness influences the CFMCHE’s performance. The study’s findings emphasize that the trapezoidal channel shape exhibits the most favorable performance among the shapes investigated. Additionally, among the operational parameters considered, the hydraulic diameter emerges as the most influential factor in determining the most suitable characteristics for CFMCHE. The presence of surface roughness was found to marginally improve thermal performance while slightly reducing hydraulic efficiency. This research provides valuable insights into the intricate interplay between surface roughness and channel shape. Notably, the impact of roughness is more pronounced in the case of the trapezoidal shape compared to other geometries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, nanofibric cobaltites were synthesized using the electrospinning technique. The research focuses on how Ni and Fe cation substitutions affect the magnetic and dielectric properties of ACo2O4. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that all synthesized samples possess a cubic spinel structure. FESEM revealed that the cobaltite samples have a nanofibric morphology composed of interconnected nanoparticles. The dielectric properties of these spinel cobaltites were examined in low magnetic fields ranging from 0 to 10 mT. Using the Maxwell–Wagner model, the study demonstrates that the transport properties of spinel cobaltites can be modulated by an external magnetic field. Dielectric plots of various magnetic spinel cobaltites showed reduced resistance in the presence of a magnetic field, underscoring the significant impact of magnetic fields on the transport properties of these materials. The research also highlights the crucial role of interconnected grains and grain boundary effects on the transport mechanisms. This study provides valuable insights into the tunable transport properties of spinel cobaltites, potentially leading to advancements in their application in magnetic and dielectric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work adsorption of toxic CH3X (X = Cl, Br) molecules was studied on pristine arsenene (p-As), single metal atom M (M = Au, Pt) doped arsenene (M-As), and AuPt-dimer decorated arsenene (AuPt-As) using first-principles calculations. The stability of M-As systems was determined with formation energy and molecular dynamics simulations. The electronic structure analysis revealed both M-As systems metallic. The adsorption process was analyzed using adsorption energy, adsorption height, charge transfer, change in electronic and magnetic properties, electron localized function (ELF) and work function. The results showed that CH3X molecules are physically adsorbed on p-As and M-As. However, decorating arsenene with AuPt-dimer significantly improved the adsorption. Both molecules are chemically adsorbed on AuPt-As with adsorption energy of -0.64 and − 0.78 eV, respectively for CH3Cl and CH3Br. These findings predict the potential use of noble metal-based dimers decorated arsenene for the detection of toxic CH3Cl and CH3Br molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, using first-principles calculations, we explored the sensing properties of formaldehyde (CH2O) on pristine antimonene (p-Sb), single vacancy modified antimonene (SV-Sb), and triple X-doped (X = B, N) SV-Sb (SV-3X-Sb). It is found that CH2O is physically adsorbed on p-Sb with adsorption energy Ea of -0.11 eV. The Ea slightly increased in SV-Sb (-0.17 eV). The maximum Ea was observed for SV-3B-Sb and SV-3N-Sb with Ea of -0.81 (-0.86) eV, respectively. Because of moderate adsorption strength, the electronic and magnetic properties of SV-Sb and SV-3X-Sb are slightly altered in the presence of CH2O. The SV-Sb with CH2O exhibits half-metallic character. The direct band gap (Eg) of SV-3B-Sb is slightly increased after adsorption, and in the presence of CH2O the semiconducting SV-3N-Sb showed a metallic character. These changes in electronic properties are attributed to charge transfer from absorbent to CH2O. These findings suggest that the sensitivity of antimonene for CH2O detection can be tuned with defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel strategy was used to successfully remove rhodamine B dye from contaminated water by combining magnetized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with myrrh gum as an adsorbent. The shape and structure of the prepared adsorbent were charecterized using X-ray powder diffraction analysis, FTIR, SEM, and TEM. A batch approach was used to study the effect of the adsorbent on rhodamine B removal, and several variables were considered, including pH, agitation time, and adsorbent dosage. The findings revealed that rhodamine B dye removal was best at a basic pH of 8, with a 0.05 g adsorbent dosage, within 30 min. Different models were utilized to analyze the isotherm data obtained during the investigations. The adsorbent exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for rhodamine B removal, reaching 332.22 mg/g. The regression analysis indicated appropriate adsorption kinetics with a pseudo-second order kinetics and an R2 value of 0.999. The thermodynamic analysis specified that the removal process exhibits endothermic characteristics, spontaneous behavior, and involves chemisorption. The obtained results demonstrate the efficacy of the adsorbent in the context of water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study described the systematic classification of Rubiaceous species by investigating morpho pollinic traits, providing a comprehensive analysis of their diversity and relationships. The implications of this taxonomic approach extend to conservation efforts, offering valuable insights for the preservation and sustainable management. This research aimed to explored palynological attributes of selected Rubiaceous species from the diverse phytogeographic regions of Pakistan. A total of 14 species categorized into five genera of Rubiaceae (Galium species, Hamelia Himalrandia, Plocama and Rubia) were analyzed using light and scanning microscopy techniques to observed both qualitative and quantitative parameters. The qualitative traits; pollen shape and diameter, polar to equatorial distance ratio, and exine sculpturing shows significant variability. The pollen aperture of predominant type were Stephanocolpate-8 and Stephanocolpate-6 and pollen shapes were lobate and circular. The average, minimum, maximum, and standard error statistics of quantitative pollen measurements were calculated using SPSS 16.0 software. The polar axis diameter was observed maximum for Plocama rosea (28.75 μm) and minimum for Rubia cordifolia (15.75 μm). Exine stratification was examined showing taxonomic diversity aids to Rubiaceous species identification. The exine peculiarities were observed; scabrate micro-echinate, micro-echinate foveolate, scabrate echinate, scabrate punctate, rugulate scabrate, scabrate psilate, micro-echinate, and rugulate reticulate. Exine thickness was noted highest for Galium spurium (3.35 μm) and lowest for Rubia infundibularis (1.1.5 μm). The integration of palyno-morphological features proves to be a powerful tool for refining the systematic classification of Rubiaceous species, enhancing our understanding of their evolutionary relationships. The conservation implications underscore the importance of incorporating detailed palyno-taxonomic insights for the preservation of ecologically significant Rubiaceous species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brucellosis infects humans and animals worldwide but is particularly prevalent in Asia. In many Asian countries, molecular diagnostic tools for accurate molecular diagnostics and molecular epidemiology are lacking. Nonetheless, some countries have conducted in-depth molecular epidemiological studies. The objective of this study was to reveal the genetic relationships, geographic origins, and distributions of Brucella strains across Asia for two primary species, B. abortus and B. melitensis. For this, we systematically searched genotyping data from published studies on the molecular epidemiology of Brucella species for both humans and livestock in Asia. We used data from multilocus sequence typing (MLST), multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), and whole genome sequencing analysis of Brucella strains. We also analyzed the MLVA genotypes of 129 B. abortus isolates and 242 B. melitensis isolates with known origins in Asia from an online MLVA database using MLVA-11 data in minimum spanning trees and MLVA-16 data in neighbor-joining trees. We found that the B. melitensis East Mediterranean lineage is predominant across the continent, with only a small number of samples from the Africa and Americas lineages, and none from the West Mediterranean lineage. The "abortus C" genotype was the most common group of B. abortus in Asia, with limited genetic variation for this species. Several studies also reported that Near Eastern countries frequently encounter human brucellosis cases of B. abortus from genotypes 42 and 43. Our study highlights the inconsistent collection of genetic data for Brucella species across Asia and a need for more extensive sampling in most countries. Finally, a consistent nomenclature is necessary to define various groupings of strains within a lineage (i.e., clade) so uniform terminology should denote particular genetic groups that are understood by all researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging technology incorporating various hardware devices and software applications to exchange, analyze, and process a huge amount of data. IoT uses cloud and fog infrastructures, comprising different hardware and software components like computing machines, networking components, storage, and virtualization elements. They can receive, process, store, and exchange data in real time. A cloud is a centralized system containing large data centres that are far from client devices. However, as IoT generates massive amounts of data, issues like latency, response time, execution of tasks within their deadline, and bandwidth arise when data is sent to the cloud for processing. Compared to the cloud, fog computing is vital as a distributed system consisting of millions of devices located at the minimum distance from the client devices. In addition, fog infrastructure reduces bandwidth and latency because it is closer to the end-user. However, maximizing utilization of resources, minimizing response time, and ensuring the completion of deadline-constrained tasks within their deadline are important research problems in fog computing. This research proposes a task scheduling technique called Resource Aware Prioritized Task Scheduling (RAPTS) in a heterogeneous fog computing environment. The aim is to execute deadline-constrained tasks within their deadlines, minimize response time and cost, as well as makespan, and maximize resource utilization of the fog layer. The RAPTS is implemented using iFogSim and its performance is evaluated regarding response time, resource utilization, task deadlines, cost, and makespan. The results have been compared with state-of-the-art fog schedulers like RACE (CFP) and RACE (FOP). The results reveal that the RAPTS have shown up to 29%, 53%, 15%, 11%, and 43% improvement in terms of resource utilization, response time, makespan, cost, and meeting task deadlines, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tungsten oxide (WO3) thin films were deposited on glass substrates of Corning glass (CG) and fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) using an RF magnetron sputtering process. The effects of varying the annealing temperature on structural, surface morphology, optical properties, and electrochromic (EC) are examined using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), SEM, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. WO3 thin films annealed at 573 K and 673 K were shown by SEM analysis to have fewer cracks after being found to crack more at 773 K. According to the XRD investigation, the WO3 thin films annealed at 573 K, 673 K, and 773 K had a crystalline nature. At 773 K, when the coloring efficiency (CE) was determined to be 40.45 cm2/s, the diffusion coefficient was found to be the lowest (1.7 × 10−14 cm2/C). At 573 K, the coloring efficiency (CE) was measured to be 52.38 cm2/C, and at 673 K, it was 39.33 cm2/C. It has been discovered that post-annealing significantly affects color efficiency, which is important in electrochromic (EC) applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's digital era, the need to safeguard the authenticity and ownership of media content shared online via social networking sites and apps has become increasingly crucial. Digital watermarking emerges as a viable solution to address this need by providing authentication and ownership verification of digital media. Various watermarking techniques have been proposed in spatial and transformation domains, with ongoing efforts to enhance robustness against common watermarking attacks, such as filtering, noise, and transformations. In this paper, we introduce a novel block-based parallelized watermarking method. Our proposed approach hides binary watermarks within grayscale images by employing multi-level discrete wavelet transformation on image blocks in parallel. A pixel scramble mechanism is also employed to strengthen security measures. The effectiveness of the proposed method is evaluated using three quality metrics: structural similarity index measure and peak signal-to-noise ratio to assess the imperceptibility of watermarked images and normalized correlation to evaluate the robustness of our approach against standard watermarking attacks. Experimental results show that our method achieves high PSNR values of up to 48.63 dB and SSIM values above 0.99, indicating excellent imperceptibility. Additionally, NC values close to 1.0 across various attack scenarios demonstrate superior robustness compared to existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) is a hazardous heavy metal that induces hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Thus, this study was planned to explore the ameliorating capacity of Aloe vera leaf gel extract (AV) and their conjugated silver nanoparticles (AVNP) against Cr (VI) induced hepatotoxicity and renal toxicity. The organ indices, level of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, malondialdehyde, total protein, and creatinine in blood serum were measured. The histopathological and micrometric analysis of the hepatic and renal tissue sections were studied. The hepatosomatic index was raised significantly (0.098 ± 0.13 g) in Cr treated group. The blood serum level of AST (484 ± 10.7 U/L), ALT (163 ± 5.5 U/L), ALP (336.7 ± 9.5 U/L), MDA (642.3 ± 28.3 U/L), and creatinine (4.0 ± 0.1 mg/dL) were increased significantly, whereas total protein level was declined (2.8 ± 0.3 g/dL) significantly in Cr exposed group. In the histopathological study, necrosis, disturbed hepatic cords, impaired glomeruli, and Bowman's capsule were noted. Micrometric data from the liver and kidney revealed a significant surge in the size of hepatocytes and their nuclei (1188.2 ± 467.7 µ2 and 456.5 ± 205.6 µ2) and CSA of glomeruli and Bowman's capsule (9051.8 ± 249.8 µ2 and 11,835.5 ± 336.7 µ2) in Cr (VI) exposed group, whereas the brush border (10.2 ± 4.0 µ) size declined significantly. The administration of AV and AVNP reduced the oxidative stress induced by Cr (VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a common pathology in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) involved in increased rates of cardiometabolic disease such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Low serum vitamin D is often associated with insulin resistance but there is no consensus on whether vitamin D supplementation can ameliorate markers of IR in PCOS. Objectives: We assessed evidence on the effects of vitamin D supplementation (≥ 1000 IU/day), without the use of additional supplements or other pharmacological treatments known to affect IR, on markers of IR and glycemic control in women with PCOS. Design: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Medline and Web of Science databases from January 2000 up to November 2023. Randomized controlled trials that assessed the effects of vitamin D supplementation in women with PCOS, on fasting glucose, fasting insulin, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) or homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were included. Results: 9 studies were identified. Study populations ranged from 28 to 180 participants, with mean ages ranging from 22 to 30 years. Daily vitamin D doses ranged from 1714-12,000 IU. Of the included studies, 3 reported statistically significant reductions in fasting glucose, 2 reported reductions in fasting insulin, 2 reported reductions in HOMA-IR, none reported reductions in HbA1c and 5 reported no differences in any of the relevant outcomes. Conclusions: In conclusion, in RCTs of vitamin D supplementation in women with PCOS, the majority of studies do not report statistically significant improvements in fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c or HOMA-IR. However, as a minority of studies report some statistically significant results, further investigation may be warranted. Registry: PROSPERO ID: CRD42023486144 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Within the manufacturing sector, assembly processes relying on mechanical fasteners such as nuts, washers, and bolts hold critical importance. Presently, these fasteners undergo manual inspection or are identified by human operators, a practice susceptible to errors that can adversely affect product efficiency and safety. Given considerations such as time constraints, escalating facility and labor expenses, and the imperative of seamless integration, the integration of machine vision into assembly operations has become imperative. Results: This study endeavors to construct a robust system grounded in deep learning algorithms to autonomously identify commonly used fasteners and delineate their attributes (e.g., thread type, head type) with acceptable precision. A dataset comprising 6084 images featuring 150 distinct fasteners across various classes was assembled. The dataset was partitioned into training, validation, and testing sets at a ratio of 7.5:2:0.5, respectively. Two prominent object detection algorithms, Mask-RCNN (regional-based convolutional neural network) and You Look Only Once-v5 (YOLO v5), were evaluated for efficiency and accuracy in fastener identification. The findings revealed that YOLO v5 surpassed Mask-RCNN in processing speed and attained an mean average precision (MAP) of 99%. Additionally, YOLO v5 showcased superior performance conducive to real-time deployment. Conclusions: The development of a resilient system employing deep learning algorithms for fastener identification within assembly processes signifies a significant stride in manufacturing technology. This study underscores the efficacy of YOLO v5 in achieving exceptional accuracy and efficiency, thereby augmenting the automation and dependability of assembly operations in manufacturing environments. Such advancements hold promise for streamlining production processes, mitigating errors, and enhancing overall productivity in the manufacturing sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blackgram, a protein-rich pulse crop (24%), is crucial for combating food insecurity, particularly in malnourished and economically weak countries. Enhancing blackgram production requires improved, input-saving management practices. Given the challenges of climate change and population growth, efficient water management is vital for increasing pulse productivity and water use efficiency with minimal investment. This study aimed to identify cost-effective irrigation methods to optimise blackgram yields. Experiments were conducted at the National Pulses Research Centre in Vamban, Pudukkottai, and the Agricultural College and Research Institute in Kumulur, Tiruchirappalli, during the kharif season of 2021 and 2022. The study compared different treatments of irrigation methods, such as check basin, raised bed, drip, sprinkler and rain hose irrigation. Results showed that the rain hose system maintained the highest soil moisture (23.93% at 10 cm depth and 19.71% at 20 cm depth). Even though drip irrigation resulted in a higher seed yield (1363 kg ha−1), the rain hose system proved to be more cost-effective, saving 27.09% in costs and achieving a 15.23% higher benefit–cost ratio. These findings suggest that the rain hose method, combined with current agronomic practices, is a viable low-cost technique for sustainable blackgram cultivation, optimising water use and maximising profits. This research provides valuable insights into water-saving irrigation methods for pulse crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores the therapeutic potential of propolis, a natural resin produced by bees, by analyzing recent literature spanning from 2005 to 2023. Various databases including Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, SCOPUS, and WoS were searched to uncover recent findings. Propolis exhibits a diverse array of pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and wound-healing effects. It shows promise in treating respiratory infections, oral diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, and skin conditions. Additionally, recent research suggests its potential as an anticancer agent. The review also investigates efficacy of propolis in addressing antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic disorders (diabetes), reproductive disorder (PCOS), cardiovascular diseases, hepatotoxicity, and wound healing properties of propolis. Hence, propolis could emerge as a natural remedy with significant potential for enhancing healthcare outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, long-range van der Waals (vdW) and effective Coulomb interaction (Ueff) corrected density functional theory (DFT + vdW + Ueff) calculations were performed to explore the effect of co-doping (of Co and Sn) on the crystal structure, electronic, magnetic and chemical (H2 adsorption) properties of phosphorene. The stability of the doped structures was determined with formation energy (Ef) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The dopants were found to form strong bonds with phosphorus (P) atoms. The introduction of Co/Sn-atoms slightly altered the local geometry of phosphorene, resulting in new electronic characteristics. For instance, unlike pristine phosphorene (P48), the co-doped phosphorene (P45CoxSny) can exhibit ferrimagnetic (FIM) or ferromagnetic (FM) coupling in the ground state. The doped structures exhibit integral magnetic moments, mainly contributed by the Co-atoms. The P45Co1Sn2 and P45Co2Sn1 structures show metallic band structure, while P45Co3 becomes a small band gap (Eg) semiconductor (Eg =0.2 eV). The adsorption of the H2 molecules was investigated at various sites on un-doped and co-doped phosphorene. It was found that H2 molecule is weakly adsorbed on un-doped phosphorene, whereas moderate adsorption was observed for co-doped systems. The adsorption energy (Ea) was found to be -0.03, -0.35, -0.48, and − 0.65 eV, respectively for P48, P45Co1Sn2, and P45Co2Sn1 and P45Co3. The DOS plots confirmed that the observed adsorption is due to the s-d interaction between H-atom and the doped Co-atom. The Bader charge and charge density difference (CDD) analysis showed that H2 molecule acts as a charge acceptor and doped phosphorene as a charge donor. In addition, the effect of strain on adsorption was also considered. The adsorption capacity of the doped systems decreased with the number of H2 molecules. These findings show that co-doped phosphorene can be used for spin-based nanodevices and hydrogen capture for energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current theoretical and computational investigation within the Darcy–Forchheimer medium through electromagnetic fields reveals the heat and mass transportation characteristics for the flow of Williamson–Sutterby nanofluid under the effects of Cattaneo–Christov double diffusion, radiation heat flux, magnetic dipole and convective boundary over a stretchy surface are taken into account. Cattaneo–Christov heat mass flux model is applied to shape the thermal and nanoparticle concentration equations. The prime purpose of the current study is to enhance the rate of heat transfer in industrial processes. Mechanism of thermal insulation, pharmacological processes, pace technology, crushing, nuclear reactor cooling, pharmaceutical procedures, geothermal reservoirs to enhance oil recovery with chemically reactive systems has great importance in mass transport. Moreover, the mass transportation is made by Arrhenius activation energy and binary chemical reaction. Additionally, the influences of bioconvection of self-propelled microorganisms are considered. The nanofluids with swimming microorganisms have great significance in microfluidics devices, medicine, cancer therapy, biotechnology applications such as biofuels and enzyme biosensor. The amalgamation of Sutterby–Williamson nanoparticles and microorganism with slight homogeneous diffusion exhibit the novelty of present work. Nonlinear PDEs are transformed into coupled ODEs by using similarity functions. The attained equations are then solved numerically with the help of software. Hartmann, Sutterby Reynolds, Sutterby Deborah, bioconvection Rayleigh numbers, mixed convection, porosity, ferrohydrodynamic interaction, buoyancy ratio and inertial resistance parameters slow down the flow of fluids. But reverse effects were observed for temperature, concentration and motile density profiles for Hartmann, porosity and ferrohydrodynamic interaction parameters. These theoretical outcomes play a vital role in industrial applications to enhance the heat/mass process, biomedical flows, heating and cooling systems, chemical processes and mining industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is a pressing issue in Delhi, with smog occurrences causing reduced visibility and various respiratory problems. A series of severe SMOG (smoke + fog) episodes between 2013 and 2017 with reduced visibility and exceptionally high PM2.5 concentrations have been reported in Delhi especially around Diwali festival (October–November). The Smog of 2016 is referred as Great Smog of Delhi. This study examined remote sensing data from 2013 to 2017 to investigate smog episodes in Delhi during pre-Diwali, post-Diwali, and Diwali. Satellite-derived parameters viz absorbing aerosol index (AAI), aerosol optical depth (AOD), and ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) along with air pollution data and climatic parameters were used to analyze smog episodes. The results showed that during smog episodes, AOD, AAI and PM2.5 concentrations exceeded permissible limits significantly at all stations across Delhi during the Diwali festival. The ground-based observations at different locations across Delhi and satellite data-derived datasets confirmed the severity of smog episodes. The findings indicate that burning of fire crackers coupled with agriculture stubble burning and subsequent transport of the smoke from North Western states through the Capital had a greater impact on deteriorating air quality in Delhi than local pollution, especially during unfavorable weather conditions associated with high humidity and weaker winds. The outcomes highlight the significance of remotely sensed information in identifying smog episodes and their severity in Delhi. It also underlines the necessity for efficient interventions to control air pollution, particularly amid festivals like Diwali.Article Highlights: Firecrackers during Diwali augmented by crop burning worsen Delhi's air quality significantly. High humidity and weak winds make smog conditions more severe and widespread. Recurrent smog episodes continued to occur despite the implementation of the Crop Residue Management Policy in 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]