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Summary Male sterility is an important agronomical trait in self‐pollinating plants for producing cost‐effective F1 hybrids to harness the heterosis. Still, large‐scale development and maintenance of male sterile lines and restoring fertility in F1 hybrids pose significant challenges in plant hybrid breeding. Cotton is a self‐pollinating crop and exhibits strong hybrid vigor. However, there are currently few breeding methods to achieve cost‐effective production of F1 hybrid cotton. Here, we utilized novel functions of the Arabidopsis autophagy‐related BECLIN1/ATG6 and a mutant of E3 ubiquitin ligase COP1 (COP1L105A) genes in developing rescuable male sterility in cotton. We have generated multiple male‐sterile (MS) and restorer (RS) cotton lines expressing BECLIN1 and COP1L105A, respectively. Cytological observation showed that post‐meiotic tapetal expression of BECLIN1 delays tapetum developmental programmed cell death (dPCD) by affecting reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance—this delay in dPCD results in early microspore defects and later small‐sized flowers with indehiscent anthers. Furthermore, the evaluation of F1 hybrids developed by crossing MS and RS lines showed that early tapetal COP1L105A expression abolishes expression of BECLIN1 resulting in normal tapetum degeneration, pollen development, and fertility. In addition, the F1 hybrid developed with MS and RS cotton lines in transgenic glass‐house and net‐house conditions showed the rescued fertility comparable with control plants (WT). In terms of cotton fiber productivity, the COP1L105A‐expressing transgenic cotton lines outperformed the WT. The current work effectively demonstrates the wider applicability of the new F1 cotton production system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antioxidants help safeguard sperm cells from damage during the freeze–thaw process. Melatonin and its metabolites have an antioxidative effect. The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of melatonin supplementation in tris‐based extenders at various concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 2 mM) on the freezability of Jamnapari goat spermatozoa. A total of 48 ejaculates were collected twice a week from four Jamnapari bucks (n = 12 × 4) using an artificial vagina during the period of October to November 2023. Selected ejaculates diluted with tris‐citric acid egg yolk extender were divided into four equal aliquots, and melatonin (dissolved in 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide) was added later at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM to the control group (C) (extender and 0.1% DMSO) and treatment groups T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Various seminal attributes such as progressive motility, livability, acrosomal integrity, sperm abnormalities, sperm plasma membrane integrity, sperm penetration distance by vanguard spermatozoa in polyacrylamide gel and seminal plasma enzyme leakage (AST, ALT, ACP and AKP) were evaluated at post‐dilution and post‐thawed stages. Our findings revealed that all semen quality parameters were superior in melatonin‐treated groups than the C, and the differences were noticeably higher in the T2 group (1.0 mM) than the other groups. Adding 1.0 mM melatonin proved to be the most effective to safeguard sperm cells from cryopreservation induced cryodamage of Jamnapari buck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binary transition metal dichalcogenides (BTMDs) have attracted a lot of researchers to exploit their unique properties for different applications in various fields, mainly in energy and environment. Surprisingly, there are no attempts of utilizing BTMDs materials particularly nickel molybdenum selenide (NiMoSe2) as a catalyst support for organic transformations. Reusable catalysts are better alternatives to the transition metal‐free protocols for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds. Herein, we report a NiMoSe2 BTMD catalyst with Lewis acidic (transition metal) and strongly basic (selenide) sites for the regioselective synthesis of 2,3,5‐tri(het)aryl‐pyrroles from β‐thioxoketone precursors. The present method is capable of giving the expected products in good to excellent yields (up to 80%). Different substituents like ester, cyano, alkyl, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, and halogens have shown tolerance under optimized reaction conditions. The recyclability and reusability of the catalyst was checked for five catalytic cycles without notable loss in reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transdermal drug delivery systems have received a lot of attention due to their noninvasive nature and possible advantages over standard drug administration methods. Because transdermal administration systems skip the gastrointestinal tract and hence avoid hepatic first pass metabolism, also the chance of adverse effects such as liver malfunction and gastrointestinal tract discomfort is low. This comprehensive review explores the various aspects of polymeric advancements in transdermal drug delivery, encompassing their roles as matrix and microreservoir formers, microneedles, pressure sensitive adhesives, rate controlling membranes, and many other components. The article emphasizes the importance of biocompatibility, chemical compatibility, and stability of polymers within the transdermal delivery system. Furthermore, it delves into the recent advancements in synthetic and natural polymer‐based transdermal drug delivery systems. Thus, a comprehensive search strategy is conducted in electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to write this review paper. The scope of this investigation involves an in‐depth study of the various polymeric materials used, their formulations, and the mechanisms that support their efficacy in delivering medications over the skin barrier. Additionally, it explores the challenges associated with stability and safety concerns, while highlighting novel approaches to overcome these problems. Furthermore, the review discusses the biocompatibility of polymeric materials, crucial for ensuring minimal adverse effects and maximum therapeutic efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neck dissection forms an important component in the surgical management of head and neck cancers. By using the conventional techniques of neck dissection, a conspicuous scar is inevitable for the patients. The development of robotic assisted neck dissection provides for a scar‐free neck along with good oncological and functional outcomes. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in our institute from 2020 March to 2022 March, where robotic‐assisted neck dissections performed via the modified bilateral axillo‐breast insufflation technique. Results: Eighty‐two patients underwent robotic neck dissections in our institute. Notably, 79 patients were treatment‐naïve. The average docking time was 12 min and console time was 160 ± 15 min. The mean lymph node yield was 28.2. The average post‐operative stay was 5.6 days. The average follow‐up was noted to be 6.4 months. The mean cosmetic satisfaction score in our patients was 4.45. Only one patient presented with nodal recurrence, who was identified as a defaulter for adjuvant treatment. Robotic neck dissection gives similar functional and oncological outcomes as compared with conventional neck dissection. Patients had excellent cosmetic satisfaction following the procedure. The limitations of these techniques include high cost of procedure and longer operating time. This is a level IV evidence study. Conclusion: Although good oncological, functional, and cosmetic outcomes have been attained in robotic assisted neck dissection, further randomized controlled studies need to be conducted to justify the added costs, cosmetic advantage, and the time taken. Level of Evidence: IV Laryngoscope, 134:4045–4051, 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel tellurium (Te) containing fluorophore, 1 and its nickel (2) and copper (3) containing metal organic complex (MOC) have been synthesized to exploit their structural and optical properties and to deploy these molecules as fluorescent probes for the selective and sensitive detection of picric acid (PA) over other commonly available nitro‐explosives. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) and single crystal X‐ray diffraction (SCXRD) techniques revealed the inclusion of "soft" Tellurium (Te) and "hard" Nitrogen (N), Oxygen (O) atoms in the molecular frameworks. Owing to the presence of electron rich "N" and "O" atoms along with "Te" in the molecular framework, 1 could efficiently and selectively sense PA with more than 80 % fluorescence quenching efficiency in organic medium and having detection limit of 4.60 μM. The selective detection of PA compared to other nitro‐explosives follows a multi‐mechanism based "turn‐off" sensing which includes photo‐induced electron transfer (PET), electrostatic (π‐π stacking and π‐anion/cation) interaction, intermolecular hydrogen bonding and inner filter effect (IFE). The test strip study also establishes the sensitivity of 1 for detection of PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background and Aims: Machine learning (ML) can identify the hidden patterns without hypothesis in heterogeneous diseases like acute‐on‐chronic live failure (ACLF). We employed ML to describe and predict yet unknown clusters in ACLF. Methods: Clinical data of 1568 patients with ACLF from a tertiary care centre (2015–2023) were subjected to distance‐, density‐ and model‐based clustering algorithms. Final model was selected on best cluster separation, viz. Silhouette width and Dunn's index (for distance‐ or density‐based algorithms) and minimum BIC (for model‐based algorithms). Cluster assignments, patient trajectories and survival were analysed through inferential statistics. Supervised ML models were trained in 70% data that predicted clusters in remaining 30% data followed by an temporal validation. Results: The cohort was male‐predominant (87%), aged 44.3 years, with alcohol‐associated hepatitis (62.9%) and survival of 50.5%. Due to poor performance of distance‐ and density‐based algorithms and better explainability, the latent class model (LCM) was selected for exploration. LCM revealed four clusters with distinct trajectories, reversibility and survival (independent of MELD, CLIF‐C ACLF and AARC scores). Cluster1 had patients with none/one organ failure and highest reversibility. Cluster2 had females with viral hepatitis and two organ failures. More‐than‐one acute precipitant, severity, infections, organ failures and irreversibility escalated from clusters 1 to 4. Circulatory and renal failures critically influenced cluster assignments. Incorporating clusters to CLIF‐C ACLF, infection and ACLF definition improved the discriminative accuracy of CLIF‐C‐ACLF by 11%. Extreme gradient boost and decision trees could predict clusters with AUCs of 0.989 (0.979–0.995) and 0.875 (0.865–0.890). MELD, CLIF‐C‐OF, haemoglobin, lactate, CLIF‐C‐ACLF and ALT were critical variables for cluster prediction. Clusters with distinct survival were documented in a temporal validation cohort. Conclusions: ML for the first time could identify clusters with distinct phenotypes, trajectories and outcomes in ACLF. Stratification into clusters can address heterogeneity, guide prognosis, recruitment in trials, resource allocation and liver transplant discussions in ACLF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, machine learning methods have been successfully used for the prediction of cardiovascular disease. Early diagnosis and prediction is necessary for giving effective treatment to avoid higher mortality rates. Several classification algorithms have been developed recently which satisfy the need, but show limited accuracy while predicting the heart disease. Hence, the focus of this study is on early prediction of heart disease and to improve the accuracy of prediction using benchmark heart disease datasets such as UCI Cleveland dataset and Heart disease clinical dataset by implementing effective classification and optimization algorithms. Optimization algorithms generally exhibit the benefit of dealing with complex non‐linear issues with better adaptability and flexibility. The Emperor penguin optimization algorithm, which can select the best features for classification has been utilized in this study to improve the efficiency, minimize reconstruction errors, and increase the quality of heart disease classification. Further, the newly developed stacked sparse convolutional neural network based auto encoder (SSC‐AE) classification algorithm has been employed for significant feature classification with higher robustness and efficacy. Accuracy, Area Under Curve (AUC), and F1 score are some of the measures used to compare the outcomes of several machine learning algorithms to those of the proposed model in this study. The results show that the proposed model, SSC‐AE, is superior to other classification models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Multigrain bread being nutritionally rich and convenient is one of the popular dietary options these days, particularly among urban dwellers. In this study, the effects of oyster mushroom powder (0–10%) supplementation on the nutritional, antioxidant, physical, textural, microstructural, and sensory attributes of multigrain bread were explored. Results showed a significant (P < 0.05) enhancement in the bread's nutritional profile, with increased levels of protein, fibre, vitamin D, iron, potassium, manganese, and zinc, along with improved antioxidant properties. Microstructural analysis revealed that mushroom powder caused rougher and more inhomogeneous starch granules in the crumb. Although the incorporation of mushroom powder led to denser, harder, and more fragile bread, as indicated by physical and textural changes, sensory evaluation indicated that up to 5% supplementation did not negatively impact consumer acceptability (P > 0.05). These findings suggest that oyster mushroom powder can be a beneficial functional ingredient in multigrain bread, enhancing its nutritional value while maintaining sensory quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of easily detecting rare earth elements (REEs) has increased due to the growing demand for REEs. Addressing this need, we present an innovative electrochemical biosensor, focusing on cerium as a model REE. This biosensor utilizes a modified EF‐hand loop peptide sequence, incorporating cysteine for covalent attachment to a gold working electrode and tyrosine as an electrochemically active amino acid. The sensor was designed such that binding to cerium induces a conformational change in the peptide, affecting tyrosine's proximity to the electrode surface, modulating the current. A calibration curve was generated from cyclic voltammetry current peaks at ~0.55–0.65 V versus a silver pseudo‐reference electrode, with cerium concentrations ranging from 0 to 67 μM in artificial urine. The sensor exhibited a biologically relevant limit of detection of 35 μM and a sensitivity of −0.0024 ± 0.002 (μA μM)−1. These findings offer insights into designing peptide sequences for electrochemical biosensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the largest subgenera of the genus Lactarius, Lactarius subg. Russularia is abundant in the forests of the Himalayas. This article proposes Lactarius crassostipes sp. nov. and Lactarius flavocorpus sp. nov. under the L. subgenus Russularia. It includes comprehensive macro‐ and micro‐morphological descriptions, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs, drawings, and comparisons with related species. The taxa's novelty is validated using phylogenetic analyses based on nrITS. Research Highlights: SEM and subsequent nrITS‐based molecular phylogeny revealed two novel species (L. crassostipes and L. flavocorpus) of the genus Lactarius subg. Russularia.To further characterize the size, form, and ornamentation of these novel species' basidiospores, SEM analysis is an additional tool.In L. crassostipes "crasso" means thick and "stipes" indicates stipe. In contrast to L. flavocorpus, where "flavocorpus" refers to the golden yellow fruiting body, the name alludes to its unique thick stipe.L. crassostipes sp. nov. and L. flavocorpus sp. nov have been collected from the coniferous and broad‐leaved forests of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India, respectively.The diagnostic characteristics, habit, habitat, and similarities to related species are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native T1 mapping is a non‐invasive technique used for early detection of diffused myocardial abnormalities, and it provides baseline tissue characterization. Post‐contrast T1 mapping enhances tissue differentiation, enables extracellular volume (ECV) calculation, and improves myocardial viability assessment. Accurate and precise segmenting of the left ventricular (LV) myocardium on T1 maps is crucial for assessing myocardial tissue characteristics and diagnosing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study presents a deep learning (DL)–based pipeline for automatically segmenting LV myocardium on T1 maps and automatic computation of radial T1 and ECV values. The study employs a multicentric dataset consisting of retrospective multiparametric MRI data of 332 subjects to develop and assess the performance of the proposed method. The study compared DL architectures U‐Net and Deep Res U‐Net for LV myocardium segmentation, which achieved a dice similarity coefficient of 0.84 ± 0.43 and 0.85 ± 0.03, respectively. The dice similarity coefficients computed for radial sub‐segmentation of the LV myocardium on basal, mid‐cavity, and apical slices were 0.77 ± 0.21, 0.81 ± 0.17, and 0.61 ± 0.14, respectively. The t‐test performed between ground truth vs. predicted values of native T1, post‐contrast T1, and ECV showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) for any of the radial sub‐segments. The proposed DL method leverages the use of quantitative T1 maps for automatic LV myocardium segmentation and accurately computing radial T1 and ECV values, highlighting its potential for assisting radiologists in objective cardiac assessment and, hence, in CVD diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to assess a straightforward technique to enhance spectral quality in the brain, particularly in the cerebellum, during 7 T MRI scans. This is achieved through a wireless RF array insert designed to mitigate signal dropouts caused by the limited transmit field efficiency in the inferior part of the brain. We recently developed a wireless RF array to improve MRI and 1H‐MRS at 7 T by augmenting signal via inductive coupling between the wireless RF array and the MRI coil. In vivo experiments on a Siemens 7 T whole‐body human scanner with a Nova 1Tx/32Rx head coil quantified the impact of the dorsal cervical array in improving signal in the posterior fossa, including the cerebellum, where the transmit efficiency of the coil is inherently low. The 1H‐MRS experimental protocol consisted of paired acquisition of data sets, both with and without the RF array, using the semi‐LASER and SASSI sequences. The overall results indicate that the localized 1H‐MRS is improved significantly in the presence of the array. Comparison of in vivo 1H‐MRS plots in the presence versus absence of the array demonstrated an average SNR enhancement of a factor of 2.2. LCModel analysis reported reduced Cramér–Rao lower bounds, indicating more confident fits. This wireless RF array can significantly increase detection sensitivity. It may reduce the RF transmission power and data acquisition time for 1H‐MRS and MRI applications, specifically at 7 T, where 1H‐MRS requires a high‐power RF pulse. The array could provide a cost‐effective and efficient solution to improve detection sensitivity for human 1H‐MRS and MRI in the regions with lower transmit efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the steady‐state Couette flow of a viscous, incompressible fluid through a rotating anisotropic porous channel confined between two horizontal plates, where the upper plate moves at a constant velocity. The main goal is to explore the combined effects of rotation and anisotropy on the flow behavior within the channel, which is governed by the Darcy–Brinkman equation and subject to no‐slip boundary conditions. Analytical solutions are derived for both the primary and secondary velocity components, along with the corresponding volumetric flow rates. The novelty of the study lies in examining how anisotropic permeability influences the flow under rotational effects. Key findings show that the primary velocity decreases as the rotation parameter increases, while the secondary velocity increases with rotation. The primary volumetric flow rate decreases with increasing anisotropy in the primary direction but increases with anisotropy in the secondary direction. The secondary volumetric flow rate, however, decreases with both permeability parameters. These effects are further elucidated through graphical and tabulated results, providing comprehensive insight into the flow behavior under various rotational and anisotropic conditions. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of anisotropic rotational flows and their practical applications in engineering systems involving porous media. The real‐life application of present paper lies in improving the design and analysis of fluid flow systems in rotating machinery, such as turbines, filters, and biomedical devices, where anisotropic porous materials are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinolones represent a class of potent antibacterial agents that primarily function by inhibiting bacterial topoisomerases and DNA gyrase. A crucial feature of their structure is a carboxylic acid group at the C‐3 position, which facilitates interaction with the active sites of these enzymes. Since the mid‐20th century, the emergence and proliferation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) have posed significant challenges in society, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic agents. In this context, a new series of quinolone derivatives has been designed and synthesized based on transtorine. All synthesized compounds were tested against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, as well as three fungal strains. Among the new compounds, 5a, 5d, and 5f demonstrated superior activity against Gram‐negative bacteria, with 5a showing notable effectiveness against P. aeruginosa compared to ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin. However, none of the compounds exhibited activity against fungal strains. Molecular docking studies revealed that compound 5a inhibited five bacterial proteins, primarily targeting bacterial cell wall synthesis. Additionally, ADMET parameters indicated that the promising compounds are suitable for oral administration with limited penetration across the blood–brain barrier compared to existing standards. This research indicates a potential pathway for developing new quinolone‐based antibiotics in the fight against AMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring heterojunction formation between conjugated organic polymer and metal‐based semiconductors with promoted charge transfer and efficient spatial charge separation has proven to be quite successful in reinforcing photocatalytic wastewater treatment. Focusing on the removal of sulfonamide antibiotics from water, herein, we report BaTiO3/I@g‐C3N4 Z‐scheme heterojunction photocatalyst for degradation of sulfamethazine (SMZ) pollutant. The optimized heterojunction 25ICN/BT exhibits superior 94.5% removal of SMZ in 90 min, which is nearly 11 and 5 times faster than BT and pristine I@g‐C3N4 under visible light. The good repeatability of 25BT/ICN was proved by four‐cycle experiments. The remarkable improvement in photocatalytic activity was due to effective Z‐scheme transfer, diminished recombination, high charge transfer capacity, and redox capability. This was ascertained by electrochemical experiments and photoluminescence measurements. Furthermore, the degradation intermediates formed during the photocatalytic oxidation of SMZ were detected via liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, and a suitable degradation pathway was suggested. The heterojunctions showed excellent performance in river, lake, and tap water and for other antibiotic pollutants. The radical quenching experiments and band structure analysis inferred •O2− radicals as main active species. This work lays down new perspectives on hierarchical heterostructures for the superior removal of noxious antibiotic contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this article, a MIMO microstrip aerial in mm‐wave regime is structured and examined. A 1 × 2 array‐based structure is designed to get directional radiation beam, which in turn provides good gain value, that is, 10.2 dBi in mm‐wave regime. The use of defected ground structure (DGS) improves the impedance matching (more than 25 dB) of the proposed radiator. Metasurface is suspended over the twin port aerial for adding two important features: (i) reduction of mutual coupling between antenna ports, that is, less than −25 dB; and (ii) conversion of the linear waves into the circular one in between 30.45 and 30.95 GHz. Experimental measurement of designed radiator confirms that designed aerial works in between 30.4 and 31.5 GHz with separation level more than 25 dB. Stable field pattern and good diversity parameter confirms its employability for mm‐wave 5G communication system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have received an abundance of attention because of their distinctive chiral nematic structure and exceptional optical characteristics. However, the use of free‐standing films is constrained by the inherent stiffness and brittleness. In this work, CNC films with robust mechanical properties are prepared by simply coating them with polymeric spherulites. Maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐MA) is used to coat CNC films. The optical properties of coated films were also analyzed using polarized optical microscope. It is observed that the circular extinction patterns for the coated CNC film were created by the radial symmetry of banded spherulites, which were responsible for the perception of the optical transmission bands of the CNC film. Interfacial anchoring plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall performance and properties of the composite system. The future development of numerous portable functional components needing improved optical, mechanical, and thermal qualities of CNC films is made possible by this protective coating approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, India has witnessed an increase in the intensity, frequency, and spread of extreme weather events. The widespread increase in extreme precipitation over the Western Coast of India is a matter of great concern. The factors contributing to such devastating extreme precipitation remain unclear due to the variability present in meteorological and oceanic variables and associated large‐scale circulations. Using reanalysis and observed datasets, we attempted to identify a combination of dynamic, thermodynamic, and cloud microphysics processes contributing to the anomalous precipitation from August 1 to 10, 2019 against its climatology. Our key findings highlight the crucial role of warm sea surface temperatures (anomaly >1.4°C), outgoing longwave radiation (anomaly <−50 W·m−2), and atmospheric temperature (anomaly over the ocean is >1.6°C) in enhancing the moisture‐holding capacity of the atmosphere by almost 10%. This elevated moisture, propelled by intensified low‐level winds (anomalies exceeding 4 m·s−1), leads to a shift from ocean to land. Notably, we observe that vertical updrafts (anomalies >−0.4 m·s−1) contribute to increased atmospheric instability and moisture convergence. The presence of an ample amount of cloud hydrometeors, with anomalies surpassing 2.5 × 10−4 kg·kg−1, establishes conditions conducive to sustained intense precipitation. Our findings deepen our understanding of the complex relationships between ocean and atmospheric dynamics, and wind patterns, and emphasize their pivotal influence on regional weather patterns and land surface hydrology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of advanced materials has become imperative for addressing challenges in diverse fields, including healthcare and infection prevention. This research contributes to this domain by focusing on the synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of ZnO‐Ag nanocomposites and embedding them in PMMA matrix to obtain free‐standing flexible membrane with enhanced antibacterial potential and reusability of material. The study employs a solvothermal method for the decoration of silver nanoparticles onto zinc oxide nanorods, with the objective of harnessing the synergistic antibacterial properties of both materials. The study evaluates the antibacterial potential of the nanocomposites through well diffusion and growth kinetic assays, revealing their enhanced efficacy with a zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 21 ± 1.05 mm against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The implications of this research extend to the realm of biomedical applications, positioning the nanocomposite‐polymer membrane as promising candidates for infection prevention in healthcare premises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica‐rich Green Graphene® (GG) derived from agricultural residue is incorporated into a floor epoxy (FEP) matrix. The inclusion of GG particles within the FEP matrix has demonstrated a significant positive impact, resulting in improved optical and mechanical properties and increased durability of the floor coatings. The addition of GG into the original FEP reduces surface pores, with the glazier appearance of the composite coating attributed to a smooth surface enhancing light reflection. It is noteworthy that the FEP exhibits a high coefficient of friction (CoF), thereby constraining its potential in tribo‐logical applications. Nano‐indentation and tribo‐logical tests confirm that, incorporation of the 0.5 wt% GG in the FEP matrix results in a 130.15% improvement in hardness, a 10.45% decrease of nano‐scratch depth, a 34.55% decrease in wear rate, and a 33.33% decrease in CoF w.r.t pristine FEP sample. Tensile testing reveals a significant 37% enhancement in fracture strain, along with improvements of 12.3% in specific flexural strength and 43% in energy absorption. The utilization of GG derived from green processes, such as pyrolysis of residual agro‐biomass, presents an environmentally conscious alternative to conventional polluting as well as nonrenewable materials employed in epoxy‐based floor coatings. Highlights: Green graphene/floor epoxy (GG/FEP) composites present a glazier appearance attributed to a smooth surface enhancing light reflection.GG particles enhance the hardness and tribo‐logical performance of the composite.GG/FEP composites show a synergistic enhancement in flexural strength.GG presents a sustainable and economically viable material for the epoxy‐based flooring industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Location‐based underwater communication applications such as strategic surveillance, disaster prevention, marine research, and mine detection have given the field of underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSN) a head start. Node localization is a prerequisite for accurate data collection, target monitoring, and network management in UWSNs. However, the unique characteristics of the underwater environment, such as signal attenuation, multipath propagation, and variable acoustic properties, pose a major challenge to effective node localization. Accurate sensor node location data is essential for successful underwater data collection, but difficult to achieve as the GPS system cannot be used in an underwater environment. In this paper, existing node localization techniques such as ALS, SLUM, MASL, SLMP, UDB, USP, etc., and recent advances such as the fusion of range‐based and range‐free techniques, the fusion of RSSI and AoA to improve localization accuracy by using directional information in addition to signal strength, and the use of optimization techniques such as PSO, COA, and WOA algorithms to improve the accuracy of the applied node localization algorithm, e.g., TP‐TSFLA, and challenges related to UWSN are discussed. Also, different localization algorithms that affect the accuracy of UWSN localization techniques have been evaluated and compared with NS2 in terms of localization error, localization coverage, energy consumption, and average communication cost metrics. In addition, this paper also provides an up‐to‐date investigation of localization techniques. Finally, the tools available for simulation are presented, followed by open research questions that need to be addressed in the localization of nodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of gene editing technologies like CRISPR/Cas9, it has become possible to edit genomic regions of interest for research and therapeutic purposes. These technologies have also been adapted to alter gene expression without changing their DNA sequence, allowing epigenetic edits. While genetic editors make edits by cutting the genome at specified regions, epigenetic editors leverage the same targeting mechanism but act based on the epigenetic modifier fused to them, such as a methyltransferase. Here, we discuss two recently employed epigenetic editors (epi‐editors) that silenced target genes involved in disease to mitigate their effects. Neumann et al. reported the construction of an epigenetic editor called CHARM that could methylate and silence the prion gene in mouse brains and subsequently switch itself off. Additionally, Capelluti et al. developed an epi‐editor called EvoETR that knocked down Pcsk9 in the murine liver to reduce LDL levels. We aim to highlight the design principles underlying the design of these epi‐editors to inform future editor designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) is a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) of the US Department of Defense (DoD) formed in 2008 with more than 20 collaborator universities in the United States. Over the last decade, SERC has conducted research with Principal Investigators from universities within the SERC network, as reflected in technical reports (TR). These reports describe detailed information and analysis of the conducted research for every project under SERC support, such as written records of experiments or results of a scientific project. We analyzed the TRs from 2009 to early 2023 to identify research streams, topics, and evolution in systems engineering (SE) research using text mining and network analysis techniques, such as Louvain Community Detection and word similarity. As a result, we identified four major research streams over a decade of research projects, along with insights about topics and the evolution of SE within this time frame. Finally, we distinguished most profile authors and their most significant collaborations and networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) to the characterization of thin films is very important because it facilitates the understanding of their physical and optical properties. To prepare a series of film samples consisting of TiO2:ZrO2 on a TiN/Si substrate, we employed the SYBILLA P200 equipment (manufactured by ABCD Technology) through the process of Chemical Beam Vapor Deposition (CBVD). TiO2:ZrO2 on TiN/Si thin films is a composite material that has gained significant attention in various technological applications, particularly in the field of thin film coatings on semiconductor substrates like TiN/Si. TiO2:ZrO2 thin films exhibit excellent dielectric properties and good thermal stability, making them suitable for various electronic and semiconductor applications. From FESEM and EDX analysis, it is found that with increase of Ti/Zr atomic ratio, grain size increases. Ellipsometric analysis reveals increase in film thickness and refractive index with increase in Ti/Zr atomic ratio. As the film continues to grow, changes in its microstructural phase led to a transition from a monolayer physical ellipsometry model to a bilayer physical model. This transition is due to the appearance of inhomogeneity in the TiO2:ZrO2 thin film. Dynamic fits obtained using a two‐layer physical model and a Cauchy–Lorentz optical model show three distinct phases in the film growth phase: a nucleation phase, a fusion phase, and a continuous layer phase. Although our proposed model shows satisfactory performance in most cases, the determination of the refractive index can be problematic for very thin thicknesses. The developed VASE modeling process should be able to generate TiO2:ZrO2characterization on TiN/Si substrate films using comparable physical and optical modeling considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musculocontractural Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (MC‐EDS) is a rare entity worldwide with underlying pathogenic variant in the carbohydrate sulfotransferase 14 (CHST14) gene. Previous reports of the same entity from India were of two unrelated cases. Ours is the first report of two siblings in an Indian family with craniofacial dysmorphism and distal arthrogryposis with a clinical diagnosis of EDS, where an underlying pathogenic variant in CHST14 was detected by exome sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a changing climate, conservation tillage and agronomic biofortification are essential for enhancing crop yield, nutritional security, carbon stocks, and soil quality. Consequently, a field study was conducted in central India to assess the short‐term (4 years) effects of crop establishment techniques (CETs) and agronomic biofortification methods (ABMs) on soil health indicators, grain yield, and quality in the soybean–wheat cropping system. The experiment followed a split‐plot design with two CETs in the main plots (permanent broad bed furrow, PBBF, and conventional tillage, CT) and eight ABMs, each with three replications. The results indicated that PBBF and ABMs (seed inoculation with the microbial strains MDSR 14 + MDSR 34, and soil and foliar application of Zn+Fe) improved soil carbon stock (by 49.6% and 52.4%), available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, available Zn (by 30.0%), and Fe (by 21.9%) after the fourth year of the study. Similarly, PBBF and microbial inoculation increased soil enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, and β‐glucosidase), substrate‐induced respiration, and microbial biomass carbon content. As a result, a higher soybean equivalent yield (5.59% higher in PBBF and 14.2% higher with foliar spray of Zn+Fe) and seed quality attributes (crude protein yield, grain Zn, and Fe) were observed in PBBF and the foliar spray of Zn and Fe treatments compared to CT and control, respectively. Overall, adopting the short‐term PBBF system, microbial inoculation, and soil and foliar application of Zn and Fe improved rhizosphere biochemical properties, yield, and seed quality in the soybean–wheat system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus fruits are extensively cultivated and eaten both raw and in refined forms. Citrus fruit peels are highly concentrated in polyphenolic substances. This makes them useful resources. Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs), found in citrus peels, belong to a specific subclass of flavonoids where most or all hydroxyl groups are methylated. PMFs have been documented to possess chemopreventive actions, anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐atherosclerosis properties, as well as neuroprotective effects. Sudachitin, a PMF, is primarily found in Citrus sudachi. Japan's Tokushima prefecture is home to this famous fruit. In recent years, there has been a growing interest among researchers in exploring the potential health benefits of sudachitin, spurred by its presence in traditional diets and its association with various positive health outcomes. Studies conducted over the past decade have revealed promising effects of sudachitin in multiple health conditions, including cancer, skin disorders, inflammatory conditions, diabetes, obesity, and neurodegenerative disorders. Although these promising results exist, there is still a need for thorough preclinical and clinical research to confirm sudachitin's effectiveness in treating chronic conditions. This review seeks to summarize animal and cell studies exploring sudachitin's pharmacological properties and the potential molecular pathways underlying its therapeutic effects. Through this, we aim to clarify the clinical potential of sudachitin across various disorders, paving the way for future research and the development of sudachitin‐based therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world around us is evolving due to Industrial Revolution 4.0. This revolution is driving the present‐day education, that is, Education 3.0–creative education towards Education 4.0, that is, industry‐centric education. The present academic environment in India is in the process of developing an educational ecosystem, which will incorporate equal access to education for all stakeholders and promote critical thinking, digital literacy, global awareness and scientific reasoning to name a few. Accordingly, it has become prudent to develop and validate a mechanism for assessing the various steps being taken to realign students to Education 4.0. This study involved 300 undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students from eight different schools across diverse program and course outcomes, who were asked to respond to a questionnaire on their own accord. The Pearson product‐moment correlation test was used to statistically analyse the obtained responses. The test results showed that the questions were logical and valid, with a significance level of 0.0115. Furthermore, the reliability of the mechanism was also assessed using Cronbach's α score. This study indicated that three aspects—learning preferences, contribution of learning to knowledge, skills, and personal development, and time spent on learning and nonacademic activities—exhibited high reliability However, two aspects—the emphasis on mental functions and reading and writing—indicated to be of moderate reliability. Thus, it could be said that the questionnaire developed in this study was both reliable and valid for assessing the mechanism being undertaken to realign students to Education 4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, nanomechanical properties for Cu and Cu–Al (where Al = 2, 4, 6, and 8 wt%) alloys are determined using nanoindentation with Berkovich tip. Nanoindentation experiments are performed using trapezoidal load function where maximum load (Pm) varies from 1000 to 9000 μN at an equal interval of 1000 μN by maintaining equal loading and unloading rate. It is found that Cu8Al sample shows lower depth of penetration (h) at any load (P) in comparison to other samples due to more pinning of dislocations or hinderance of the dislocation movement by solute (Al) atoms during nanoindentation deformation. In addition, it is observed that the recovery is maximum for Cu8Al sample among all samples; however, this recovery is reducing with the increasing Pm for all samples. Thereafter, the elasticity and plasticity index are calculated from the area under the P–h curves, which shows that the elastic index is maximum for Cu8Al and minimum for Cu. Furthermore, the nanomechanical properties (reduced elastic modulus [Er] and hardness [H]) are reported for all samples and significant indentation size effect is observed for Cu8Al due to dislocation structure during deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This quality improvement initiative is a continued pursuit to optimize outcomes by iteratively improving our opioid sparing anesthesia protocol for tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy at our pediatric ambulatory surgical center through data driven Plan‐Do‐Study‐Act cycles. Methods: From 1/2015 through 12/2023, our standardized tonsillectomy protocol underwent nine procedure‐specific perioperative Plan‐Do‐Study‐Act cycles, three procedure‐specific postoperative prescription Plan‐Do‐Study‐Act cycles, and four general ambulatory surgical center enhanced recovery Plan‐Do‐Study‐Act cycles. We analyzed data from the medical record using statistical process control charts. The primary outcome measure was the percent of patients requiring intravenous opioid in the post anesthesia care unit. Secondary outcomes included maximum post anesthesia care unit pain score, the percent of patients requiring treatment for nausea and/or vomiting in the post anesthesia care unit, and the number of postoperative opioid prescription dosages. Balancing measures were average post anesthesia care unit length of stay, percent of patients with prolonged Post Anesthesia Care Unit length of stay (>120 min), and 30‐day reoperation rate. Results: A total of 5654 tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy cases were performed at our ambulatory surgical center from 2015 to 2023. The incidence of intravenous opioid administered in the post anesthesia care unit initially rose with opioid free anesthesia launch, but subsequently decreased below the target of 10%. Maximum post anesthesia care unit pain scores rose from mean 3.6 to 4.5, but subsequently returned to the baseline of 3.5, while the incidence of postoperative nausea and/or vomiting improved. The average post anesthesia care unit length of stay increased by 10 min with opioid free anesthesia; however, prolonged post anesthesia care unit stay and 30‐day reoperation rates were unchanged. Conclusions: The continued refinement of our opioid sparing anesthesia protocol has led to reduced perioperative and home opioid use, stable maximum post anesthesia care unit pain scores, and improved postoperative nausea and vomiting rates, with only a slight increase in mean post anesthesia care unit length of stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar, a carbon‐rich material derived from organic biomass under low‐O2 conditions, has gained importance due to its role in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon. It can be used as an alternative energy source and has applications in nutrient cycling, improving soil properties, and removing heavy metals and organic pollutants, thus contributing to sustainable agriculture and environmental remediation. In the face of alarming climate change, rising energy demand, and increasing pollution, the integration of biochar production into biorefineries is an important strategy to promote a sustainable and circular economy. Adopting a holistic approach to biomass utilization by developing strategies to maximize biochar production along with the production of other value‐added products while improving its quality can increase biorefineries' overall sustainability and efficiency. Fine‐tuning the biorefinery process from feedstock selection to co‐production, optimizing pyrolysis conditions, and integrating it with other technologies can help to achieve this goal while generating zero waste and diversified revenues. With the biochar market growing exponentially, further research into the long‐term impact of biochar on carbon sequestration and its application in the environment is the next step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface treatment of perovskite materials with their layered counterparts has become an ubiquitous strategy for maximizing device performance. While layered materials confer great benefits to the longevity and long‐term efficiency of the resulting device stack via passivation of defects and surface traps, numerous reports have previously demonstrated that these materials evolve under exposure to light and humidity, suggesting that they are not fully stable. Therefore, it is crucial to study the behavior of these materials in isolation and in conditions mimicking a device stack. Here, it is shown that perovskite capping layers templated by a range of cations on top of methylammonium lead iodide devolve in conditions commonly found during perovskite fabrication, such as exposure to light, solvent, and moisture. Photophysical, structural, and morphological studies are used to show that the degradation of these layered perovskites occurs via a self‐limiting, pinhole‐mediated mechanism. This results in the loss of whole perovskite sheets, from a few monolayers to tens of nanometers of material, until the system stabilizes again as demonstrated for exfoliated flakes of PEA2PbI4. This means that initially targeted structures may have devolved, with clear optimization implications for device fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residential cooking with non‐renewable energy sources, such as firewood, charcoal, natural gas, participate in the emission of more than a gigaton of CO2 per year, which represents 2% of the global CO2 emissions. Additionally, toxic particles including sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and mercury are released leading to elevated levels of indoor air pollution, and adversely affecting the health of the inhabitants. The residential sector's non‐renewable energy cooking devices also pose significant problems, consuming approximately 30%–40% of global energy usage, with over 80% dedicated to cooking applications. To mitigate the negative impacts of traditional cooking on health and the environment, various renewable energy‐based cooking technologies have been developed recently. The primary contributions of our paper are to: (a) present a comprehensive review of concentrated solar thermal cooking technologies, assessing their social, economic, and environmental impact across different climatic zones in developing countries like India; (b) classify and compare different solar cooking technologies, highlighting their advantages and limitations in various scenarios; (c) evaluate the energy efficiency of diverse solar cooking technologies; (d) analyze the impact of solar cookers on communities in developing countries; and (e) identify the challenges and future directions for solar cooker technologies, particularly in solar community kitchens. Our novel findings demonstrate that using solar cooking devices can reduce energy consumption by up to 56% in Indian schools. Moreover, the payback period ranges from 3 to 6 years, contingent on the technology's cost, climatic conditions, and available subsidies. Consequently, significant positive impacts on society, the economy, and the environment are observed when traditional cooking devices are replaced by solar cooking devices. This study provides a unique and thorough analysis, contributing to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable cooking solutions and their potential to transform energy consumption patterns in developing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced diagnostic methods are necessary for the prompt and reliable identification of tuberculosis (TB), which continues to be a worldwide health problem. Globally, there were projected to be 10 million new cases of tuberculosis in 2021, of which 9.8 million affected adults and 0.2 million children. About 15% of fatalities worldwide are attributable to tuberculosis (1.5 million deaths for every 10 million infections). To create a reliable model for tuberculosis (TB) identification using chest X‐ray pictures, we use deep learning approaches in this work, namely Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and a combination of transfer learning and hyperparameter tuning. The dataset provides a varied selection of 3500 normal and 700 TB‐infected patients. It consists of 4200 photos that were obtained from the "Tuberculosis (TB) Chest X‐ray Database" on Kaggle. By utilizing the benefits of a trained model, the suggested methodological approach incorporates transfer learning. To maximize the performance of the suggested model, hyperparameter adjustment is also used. Using the VGG19 pre‐trained neural network, the model design is based on the concepts of transfer learning. The architecture makes use of task‐specific layers, regularization methods, and deliberate layer freezing to enable sophisticated categorization. Training and assessment stages demonstrate encouraging outcomes, with an accuracy of almost 98% attained on a different test dataset. A more thorough examination highlights the need for caution when interpreting high accuracy, nevertheless, by highlighting possible difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports simple, rapid, and novel enantioselective reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) for separation of (−)‐(3R, 4R)‐ormeloxifene hydrochloride (d‐ORM) and (+)‐(3S, 4S)‐ormeloxifene hydrochloride (l‐ORM) (ORM, centchroman) using chiral stationary phase (Chiral‐AGP, Chiracel OJ‐RH, and ChiraDEX HR). The best enantiomeric separation was obtained on the ChiraDEX HR (α = 0.89, Rs = 1.9) column with a gradient mode elution using a combination of ammonium acetate (10 mM, pH 4.0) and methanol as a mobile phase. The flow rate and column oven temperature were 0.7 mL/min and 30°C, respectively. The detection limits (λmax 280 nm) for d‐ORM and l‐ORM were 0.170 and 0.169 µg/mL, whereas quantification limits were 0.516 and 0.512 µg/mL. The method was validated according to the International Council on Harmonization (ICH) regulatory Guidelines Q2 (R1) in terms of its accuracy, precision, sensitivity, linearity, specificity, robustness, and solution stability. The designed analytical method could be extended as a quality control tool for pharmaceutical quality assessments as well as isomeric quantification of ORM in industrial bulk manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Positive surgical margin rates remain high in head and neck cancer surgery. Relocation is challenging given the complex, three‐dimensional (3D) anatomy. Methods: Prospective, multi‐institutional study to determine accuracy of head and neck surgeons and pathologists relocating margins on virtual 3D specimen models using written descriptions from pathology reports. Using 3D models of 10 head and neck surgical specimens, each participant relocated 20 mucosal margins (10 perpendicular, 10 shave). Results: A total of 32 participants, 23 surgeons and 9 pathologists, marked 640 margins. Of the 320 marked perpendicular margins, 49.7% were greater than 1 centimeter from the true margin with a mean relocation error of 10.2 mm. Marked shave margins overlapped with the true margin a mean 54% of the time, with no overlap in 44 of 320 (13.8%) shave margins. Conclusions: Surgical margin relocation is imprecise and challenging even for experienced surgeons and pathologists. New communication technologies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wide‐ranging research has been done on ionic liquid (IL)‐incorporated conducting polymers in energy storage devices. Herein, by taking the reaction advantage of styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer with sodium hydroxide, a sodium ion having polymeric material as an electrolyte is synthesized. 1,8‐Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐enium acetate (DBU acetate) is prepared as an IL and added to the prepared polymer electrolyte to increase the matrix flexibility, semisolid nature, and ionic mobility inside the matrix. This semisolid sodium ion‐based electrolyte shows conductivity in the order of 10−5 S cm−1 and an electrochemical stability window of 2.52 volts with >97% of ionic transference. It also shows the diffusivity constant in the order of 10−4 m2 s−1 and ionic mobility in the order of 10−3 m2 v−1 s−1 at 30 °C. The hydrogel matrix shows a correlated type of hopping with a power exponent <1 at 30 °C with low‐energy requirement of ionic transport, that is, 0.709 eV. A high amount of capacitance is associated with electrolyte that has an insignificant electrode contribution. On behalf of these findings, SMA‐IL‐based semisolid polymer electrolyte confirms its potential for application in sodium ion‐based energy storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), identified as an invasive pest worldwide, has severely threatened agricultural production and food security in India. To formulate eco‐friendly integrated pest management strategies for S. frugiperda in its new invasive habitat, the basic knowledge about demographic parameters and damage potential of this pest is crucial. The effects of five host crops viz. maize (Zea mays L.), popcorn (Zea mays everta Sturt), sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.)) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) on the development and food consumption of S. frugiperda were examined. Population projection curves based on life table and consumption rates were drawn on different hosts using computer simulation.The pre‐adult development of S. frugiperda was fastest on popcorn (28.02 days), maize (28.04 days) and sweet corn (28.31 days) but slowest on soybean (34.83 days). The highest net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase and finite rate of increase were observed on maize. The feeding potential of S. frugiperda was also highest on maize. The maximum consumption of the sixth larval instar was observed on maize (19470.47 mm2) while lowest on soybean (9033.67 mm2). In the simulation period of 90 days, the fastest growth of S. frugiperda was expected on maize, popcorn and sweet corn while the slowest on soybean.High larval and pupal survival recorded on the non‐maize hosts (sorghum and soybean) reflects that fall armyworm could be an obstacle in their production as well as in the success of maize‐soybean intercropping system. Simulations based on age‐stage, two‐sex life table could be helpful in predicting the most appropriate time for the pesticide application as well as augmentative releases of egg and larval parasitoids for the control of fall armyworm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal compounds (TMCs) are potentially fruitful substitutes for noble metals for electrocatalytic splitting of water due to their intrinsic electrocatalytic activity, modifiable morphology, tunable electronic structure and their earth‐abundance. The combination of TMCs with graphene improves the dispersion of loaded catalysts, providing more catalytic active sites, enhancing the conductivity of hybrids, affording accelerated charge‐transfer kinetics, and minimizing catalyst bleaching, aggregation, and sintering under harsh reaction conditions. Additionally, graphene incorporation into TMCs modulates the electronic structure of active centers because of the synergistic interaction between them, thereby improving their catalytic performance. This review paper focuses on the recent progress made in designing different graphene‐transition metal‐based materials that can be used in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and overall water splitting (OWS). In‐situ characterization methodologies and DFT calculations that facilitate catalyst development are discussed elaborately. Finally, the advancements made in the development of graphene‐supported transition metal compounds for use in a functional water electrolyzer have been explored. In conclusion, a few specific recommendations have been made about the current challenges related to the widespread production of effective HER/OER electrocatalysts for water electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environment consists of wide diversity, of which, an integral and most diversifying part is the living organisms, and hence it is imperative to design novel strategies that could alleviate pollutants and detect them at very minute levels. The functionalization of nanomaterials provides a very facile and efficient tool for the design of robust sensors that could detect pollutants that contaminate air, water, and soil. Because of their nanoscale size, these materials have enhanced surface‐to‐volume ratio, which in turn provide more reaction sites for the analyte interaction and enables highly specific and sensitive detection. Different nanomaterials like metal/metal oxide nanoparticles, quantum dots, carbon‐based nanomaterials, and miscellaneous nanomaterials like polymer, dendrimers, metal‐organic frameworks are functionalized with suitable ligands for efficient detection of a wide range of pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, industrial wastes, volatile organic compounds, toxic gases, and environmental pathogens with efficient level of sensitivity. In this review, we will briefly discuss different types of functionalized nanomaterials, strategies adopted for their functionalization, detection methodologies pursued for specific sensing and detection of different types of pollutants and their critical analysis, and future outlook. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]