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Myopericytoma (MPC) is a rare benign mesenchymal neoplasm with perivascular myoid differentiation that most commonly arises in middle adulthood. The lesion generally involves the subcutaneous soft tissue of the lower extremities. Histologically, it is characterised by concentric perivascular proliferation of spindled myoid cells with bland elongated nuclei associated with blood vessels. The present case series emphasises five cases of MPC in relatively younger-aged female patients. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) was inconclusive in all five patients. Histopathological examination showed perivascular concentric proliferation of myoid tumour cells, which were ovoid, spindled, or round cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, and no nuclear atypia, hyperchromasia, or necrosis. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was positive for Smooth Muscle Actin (SMA). Although MPC can be diagnosed through histopathological examination, IHC is required for confirmation.

Acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) offers a dynamic approach for generating bubbles on demand, presenting new possibilities in biomedical applications. Although ADV has been investigated in various biomedical applications, its potential in tissue characterization remains unexplored. Here, we investigated the effects of surrounding media on the radial dynamics and acoustic emissions of ADV bubbles using theoretical and experimental methodologies. For theoretical studies, bubble dynamics were combined with the Kelvin-Voigt material constitutive model, accounting for viscoelasticity of the media. The radial dynamics and acoustic emissions of the ADV-bubbles were recorded via ultra-high-speed microscopy and passive cavitation detection, respectively. Perfluoropentane phase-shift droplets were embedded in tissue-mimicking hydrogels of varying fibrin concentrations, representing different elastic moduli. Radial dynamics and the acoustic emissions, both temporal and spectral, of the ADV-bubbles depended significantly on fibrin elastic modulus. For example, an increase in fibrin elastic modulus from ≈0.2 kPa to ≈6 kPa reduced the maximum expansion radius of the ADV-bubbles by 50%. A similar increase in the elastic modulus significantly impacted both linear (e.g., fundamental) and nonlinear (e.g., subharmonic) acoustic responses of the ADV-bubbles, by up to 10 dB. The sensitivity of ADV to the surrounding media was dependent on acoustic parameters such as driving pressure and the droplets concentration. Further analysis of the acoustic emissions revealed distinct ADV signal characteristics, which were significantly influenced by the surrounding media.

Fungal diseases cause substantial loss to agricultural crops, affecting both quantities and quality. Although several methods are used for preventing disease incidence, fungicides remain crucial for higher yields and better quality. But in the past, the efficacy of several fungicides has decreased due to increased cases of fungicide resistant. In our pursuit of new effective fungicides, we synthesised a series of twenty 2-Indazol-1-yl-chromen-4-one derivatives (6a- 6t). The characterization of synthesized compounds was performed by several spectroscopic methods including Infrared, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H and 13C) and HRMS. Out of 20 synthesised compounds, 19 (6b- 6t) were found to be novel. All synthesised indazolylchromones showed very good antifungal activity against Sclerotium rolfsii and Fusarium oxysporum. Among the tested compounds, 6t and 6f exhibited very good fungicidal activity against S. rolfsii with an ED50 of 10.10 mg L-1 and 16.18 mg L-1, respectively. In case of Fusarium oxysporum compound 6f displayed good’ activity with an ED50 value of 27.82 mg L-1. Molecular docking study was done to predict the binding sites of most active compounds, 6t and 6f with Cytochrome P450 14alpha -sterol demethylase (CYP51) enzyme using molsoft software. The acute toxicity predictions the of synthesized compounds for fish (LC50,96 Hr), daphnid (LC50, 48 Hr) and green algae (EC50, 96Hr) and the chronic toxicity predictions (ChV) were assessed using Ecological Structure Activity Relationship (ECOSAR) model. As per ECOSAR prediction, all the chemicals are inside AD and not missing predictions.

Introduction: Oral cancer presents challenging and unresolved problems for the human population, accounting for as much as 30-40% of all carcinomas in India. The current research focuses on the use of the tumour marker β2-microglobulin as a surrogate marker in patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) for early detection of cancer. Aim: To evaluate the level of serum β2-microglobulin in histologically diagnosed OSCC patients and compare it with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Pathology at SN Medical College, Agra, over a period of one year and six months. The study included 50 histologically diagnosed OSCC cases and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Blood samples were taken from the healthy controls and OSCC patients, and the level of serum β2-microglobulin was measured using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11. Z test and ANOVA test were used to compare various parameters. A p-value of

A series of 16 novel prenylated chalcones (5A-5P) was synthesized by microwave-assisted green synthesis using 5-prenyloxy-2-hydroxyacetophenone and different benzaldehydes. Comparisons were also performed between the microwave and conventional methods in terms of the reaction times and yields of all compounds, where the reaction times in the microwave and conventional methods were 1–4 min and 12–48 h, respectively. The synthesized compounds were characterized using different spectroscopic techniques, including IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and LC-HRMS. The antifungal activities of all compounds were evaluated against Sclerotium rolfsii and Fusarium oxysporum under in vitro conditions and were additionally supported by structure–activity relationship (SAR) and molecular docking studies. Out of the 16 compounds screened, 2’-hydroxy-4-benzyloxy-5’-O-prenylchalcone (5P) showed the highest activity against both S. rolfsii and F. oxysporum, with ED50 of 25.02 and 31.87 mg/L, respectively. The molecular docking studies of the prenylated chalcones within the active sites of the EF1α and RPB2 gene sequences and FoCut5a sequence as the respective receptors for S. rolfsii and F. oxysporum revealed the importance of the compounds, where the binding energies of the docked molecules ranged from −38.3538 to −26.6837 kcal/mol for S. rolfsii and −43.400 to −23.839 kcal/mol for F. oxysporum. Additional docking parameters showed that these compounds formed stable complexes with the protein molecules.

The synthesis of biodiesel can be achieved using either homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts. Given the non-renewable nature of homogeneous catalysts, heterogeneous catalysts are increasingly preferred for biodiesel production. Agricultural wastes serve as a viable source for these heterogeneous catalysts, contributing to environmental sustainability. This study introduces a novel, eco-friendly, cost-effective, and efficient heterogeneous catalyst that was developed and derived from Citrus limetta peels for biodiesel production. The catalyst was thoroughly characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffractograms (XRD), Field Emission Scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). Coconut oil, a rich and renewable resource, was used as the feedstock for the biodiesel synthesis. The conversion process was confirmed by 1H NMR, IR spectra, mass spectra, and 13C NMR of the biodiesel. The developed method using the Citrus limetta peel-derived catalyst demonstrated a 100% yield. The results show the optimum conditions for biodiesel synthesis are 1 w/v (for the catalytical dose), with a 6:1 methanol/oil ratio at 60 °C for 3 h. The synthesized biodiesel exhibited a high cetane value of 54, contributing to improved ignition and reduced engine noise. Its sulfur-free composition, boiling point of 294 °C, high viscosity of 2.5 mm2/s, acid value of 0.09 mgKOH/g, and flash point of 142 °C enhance its environmental profile. The catalyst can be used for up to five cycles, underscoring its potential as a cost-effective and sustainable approach for biodiesel production.

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Increasing the number of resistant bacteria resistant to treatment is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. These bacteria are created in wounds and injuries and can be transferred through hospital equipment. Various attempts have been made to treat these bacteria in recent years, such as using different drugs and new sterilization methods. However, some bacteria resist drugs, and other traditional methods cannot destroy them. In the meantime, various studies have shown that cold atmospheric plasma can kill these bacteria through different mechanisms, making cold plasma a promising tool to deactivate bacteria. This new technology can be effectively used in the food industry because it has the potential to inactivate microorganisms such as spores and microbial toxins and increase the wettability and printability of polymers to pack fresh and dried food. It can also increase the shelf life of food without leaving any residue or chemical effluent. This paper investigates cold plasma’s potential, advantages, and disadvantages in the food industry and sterilization.

Moringa oleifera is a plant native to India and its flowers are an excellent source of phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants. DES (Deep Eutectic Solvents) based solvents have a vast majority of benefits, such as they are non-toxic, green solvents, with a highly efficient method of extraction of phenolic, antioxidant, and flavonoid compounds. DES solvents are made by combining two solvents, out of which one must be a hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and another must be a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) whereas, combining these two types reduces the melting point of the solvents. Six different types of DESs combinations were used in different ratios, for the optimization of the extraction process. The six combinations used were ChCl-Gly, ChCl-MA, ChCl-LA, ChCl-Glu, Pro-Gly, and Pro-LA. Total phenolic content, flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, lipase activity and glucose uptake assay of Moringa oleifera flower (MOFs) extracts were calculated in vitro at different temperatures ranging from 50 to 80 ℃ by using the statistical tool Anova single factor. Maximum yield, of phytochemicals were found at 70 ℃ with the DES combination Pro-Gly in 1:2 M ratio where phenolic content (32.4 mg GAE/g DW), Flavonoid content (42.1 mg QE/g DW), and antioxidant activity (65.82 %).

The hydrogenation of 1,3 butadiene (BD) is an important industrial process that is generally used to generate butenes and aromatics, which are important petrochemicals and constituents of transportation fuels. Ni-based catalysts have gained increasing interest in the academic community and industry because of their superior hydrogenation activity, ability to exist in multiple oxidation states and most importantly, affordability compared to the less-abundant precious metal catalysts. In this work, we explore the ability of alumina (Al2O3) and niobia (Nb2O5) as catalytic supports for Ni as the active metal since they have shown excellent potential for hydrogenation of alkenes. Specifically, we compare the metal-support interactions, which disperse Ni effectively throughout the catalyst surface, textural and pore parameters, Ni crystallite size, surface morphology, elemental composition, coke formation and tendencies of both catalysts through extensive characterization techniques such as H2-temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), N2-adsorption–desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy combined with electron-dispersive spectra (SEM-EDS), and thermal analysis of the spent catalysts. Limited reports on the use of niobium oxides and alumina as supports for Ni in the partial hydrogenation of BD prompted us to explore this literature gap. The catalytic reactions were conducted using a quartz tube reactor between a temperature range of 50 and 400 °C at regular intervals of 50 °C under operating pressures of 1 atm. A comprehensive analysis of the products from the reaction was carried out using gas-chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC–MS) detector and corroborated these results with those from infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Reaction mechanisms of aliphatic and aromatic product formation were proposed and verified with literature and our own characterization results. The tests on the spent catalysts also helped to reveal the extent of deactivation of the catalysts due to carbon deposition. Mechanisms of catalyst deactivation and nature of carbonaceous deposits were explored and elaborate scientific reasoning was provided as to why Ni/alumina showed better performance in terms of product yields and BD conversion. Ways to mitigate the harmful effects of coke formation and its deposition are also discussed. The novelty of our work is that a comprehensive comparison of the performance of Ni/alumina and Ni/niobia for hydrogenation of BD along with extensive discussions on coke formation, its chemical nature and proposed reaction chemistry based on obtained characterization results of the catalysts and the products of BD hydrogenation has not been done before for this system. In this way, we show the low-temperature conversion of BD represents an economically efficient and relatively simple method to convert toxic, carcinogenic and environmentally hazardous BD into high-value products using low-cost and chemically efficient catalysts.

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Solar radiation management through artificially increasing the amount of stratospheric sulfate aerosol is being considered as a possible climate engineering method. To overcome the challenge of transporting the necessary amount of sulfur to the stratosphere, Quaglia and co-workers suggest deliberate emissions of carbonyl sulfide (OCS), a long-lived precursor of atmospheric sulfate. In their paper, published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics in 2022, they outline two scenarios with OCS emissions either at the Earth's surface or in the tropical upper troposphere and calculate the expected radiative forcing using a climate model. In our opinion, the study (i) neglects a significantly higher surface uptake that will inevitably be induced by the elevated atmospheric OCS concentrations and (ii) overestimates the net cooling effect of this OCS geoengineering approach due to some questionable parameterizations and assumptions in the radiative forcing calculations. In this commentary, we use state-of-the-art models to show that at the mean atmospheric OCS mixing ratios of the two emissions scenarios, the terrestrial biosphere and the oceans are expected to take up more OCS than is being released to reach these levels. Using chemistry climate models with a long-standing record for estimating the climate forcing of OCS and stratospheric aerosols, we also show that the net radiative forcing of the emission scenarios suggested by Quaglia and co-workers is smaller than suggested and insufficient to offset any significant portion of anthropogenically induced climate change. Our conclusion is that a geoengineering approach using OCS will not work under any circumstances and should not be considered further.

This research article focuses on the development of an in-situ nasal gel formulation for the antimigraine agent, Rizatriptan (RZT), to enhance its bioavailability and efficacy in treating migraine. The aim of the study was to overcome the challenges of rapid mucociliary clearance. Carbopol 934P (1–2 %w/v) was added to the primary solution, followed by HPMC K4M (0.4–1.2 %w/v). Different copolymers were tested, and HPMC K4M was chosen due to its compatibility with the other ingredients. The pH of all formulations was in the nasal pH range, and the drug content was above 97% in all batches. Gelling time varied from 1.3 to 8.6 sec, with low gelling time observed when viscosity and mucoadhesive strength were high. The results were analyzed using a statistical model with interactive and polynomial terms. The statistical analysis showed a good correlation between dependent and independent variables, with R2 values of 0.97758 and 0.948931 for viscosity and mucoadhesive strength, respectively. The Cmax of RZT in the brain was significantly higher (p

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Although hair loss plays a vital physiological function in present society, their impact on shaping self-esteem is undeniable. Even though there are numerous synthetic drugs available, these days, there are issues with safety, efficiency, and unclear time settings for required outcomes with the current synthetic drug remedies available; therefore, there is growing attention to discovering alternative methods to fight hair loss, primarily through plant-derived formulations. While earlier reports mostly focused on screening compounds or plant extracts affecting 5α-reductase, our research takes a unique direction. We employed a biochemical and molecular biological approach by delving into the complicated biosynthetic pathways involving 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) in producing testosterone derived from cholesterol. This process conceded requiring experimental results, posing insights into the control of the testosterone/dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production pathway. Our study confirms a discovery platform for finding potential candidates as hair loss inhibitors, highlighting exploring various biochemical mechanisms involving 17β-HSD and 3β-HSD in combination with medicinal plant extracts.

We consider the influence of different nanoparticles or micrometre-scale colloidal objects, which we commonly refer to as particles, on liquid crystalline (LC) orientational order in essentially spatially homogeneous particle–LC mixtures. We first illustrate the effects of coupling a single particle with the surrounding nematic molecular field. A particle could either act as a “dilution”, i.e., weakly distorting local effective orientational field, or as a source of strong distortions. In the strong anchoring limit, particles could effectively act as topological point defects, whose topological charge q depends on particle topology. The most common particles exhibit spherical topology and consequently act as q = 1 monopoles. Depending on the particle’s geometry, these effective monopoles could locally induce either point-like or line-like defects in the surrounding LC host so that the total topological charge of the system equals zero. The resulting system’s configuration is topologically equivalent to a crystal-like array of monopole defects with alternating topological charges. Such configurations could be trapped in metastable or stable configurations, where the history of the sample determines a configuration selection.

Diabetes is one of the most significant causes of death all over the world. This illness, due to abnormal blood glucose levels, leads to impaired wound healing and, as a result, foot ulcers. These ulcers cannot heal quickly in diabetic patients and may finally result in amputation. In recent years, different research has been conducted to heal diabetic foot ulcers: one of them is using cold atmospheric pressure plasma. Nowadays, cold atmospheric pressure plasma is highly regarded in medicine because of its positive effects and lack of side effects. These conditions have caused plasma to be considered a promising technology in medicine and especially diabetic wound healing because studies show that it can heal chronic wounds that are resistant to standard treatments. The positive effects of plasma are due to different reactive species, UV radiation, and electromagnetic fields. This work reviews ongoing cold atmospheric pressure plasma improvements in diabetic wound healing. It shows that plasma can be a promising tool in treating chronic wounds, including ones resulting from diabetes.

Nanoparticles have gained considerable attention during the present millennium due to its unique properties and usage of same in all the scientific fields. The present study was aimed to phyto-fabricate zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) from Sida acuta and evaluate its antioxidant and photocatalytic activity against the dye victoria blue (VB). The phyto-fabricated ZnO NPs when subjected for physico-chemical characterization showed an absorbance peak at 373 nm and was spherical in nature. Strong and well-distinguished sharp peaks were noticed in X-ray diffraction analysis with an average size of ∼32.82 nm calculated through Scherrer’s formula. The size was also authenticated through dynamic light scattering analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy confirmed that the phyto-constituents of the plant extract served as capping/stabilizing agents during the synthesis of ZnO NPs. The atomic force microscopy studies on morphology and geometrics of the synthesized particles indicated that particles were monodispersed with colour difference. In addition, the surface area of ZnO NPs measured by Braunauer–Emmett–Teller experimental studies for adsorption isotherms was found to be 7.364 m2·g−1. The antioxidant efficacy of the phyto-fabricated ZnO NPs offered concentration-dependent antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 0.74 mg·mL−1. Further, the VB (9 mM) dye degradation studies using the phyto-fabricated ZnO NPs (0.75 g·L−1) resulted in dye degradation of 93% at 40 min in natural sunlight. Further, the reuse and recycling of the photocatalyst for dye degradation offered 70.25% dye degradation ability within 40 min exposure to sunlight at the fifth cycle of reusability thereby indicating effective dye degradation ability of the phyto-fabricated ZnO NPs from the aqueous leaf extract of S. acuta.

Single differential cross sections as a function of secondary electron energy at fixed incident electron energies 100 and 200 eV for the targeted molecule CH3 and SiH3 have been evaluated by using a modified Jain-Khare semi-empirical approach. The integral or total electron-impact ionization cross-sections and the averaged energy loss from differential ionization cross-sections are calculated for incident electron energy from the ionization threshold to the 5 keV regimes. The temperature-dependent ionization rate coefficient is also calculated from total ionization cross-sections and Maxwell-Boltzmann electron energy distribution.The calculated values of total ionization cross sections corresponding to (e, 2e) processes for CH3 and SiH3 molecules are in good accord with available theoretical and experimental results.

Introduction: The appropriate diagnosis of intra-abdominal lesions is difficult and often requires histopathological confirmation. Image guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a simple, readily available, safe, inexpensive, time saving, rapid procedure which prevent unnecessary surgical interventions. Aim: The study was conducted to determine the diagnostic efficacy of image guided FNAC in the assessment of intra- abdominal lesions and to determine age and sex distribution. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Pathology SN Medical College Agra (from September 2019 to September 2021. Two hundred and seven patients who were detected to have abdominal lesions by Ultrasonography (USG) or Computed Tomography (CT), image guided Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) was performed under all aseptic condition. The sample was spread onto slides, air-dried and stained with Giemsa and was fixed in 95% ethanol and stained with Papanicolaou’s stain. The cyto-histopathological association was done wherever possible, the overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, the Negative Predictive Value (NPV) and Positive Predictive Value (PPV) was calculated. Results: Out of 207 patients, 110 were males and 97 were females with male to female ratio of 1.13:1. Out of 207 cases, the aspirate was satisfactory in 201 (97%) cases. Unsatisfactory aspirate was obtained in 06 (3.0%) of cases. Among 207 cases, most common lesions were malignant 170(82.1%) cases, followed by inflammatory 31 (14.9%) cases and unsatisfactory 06 (3.0%) cases. Most common age group for malignant lesions was 59-68 years with 45 (26.4%) cases followed by 49-58 years with 41 (24.1%) cases. The majority of aspirates were from liver 78 cases (38.2%), followed by 47 cases (22.71%) from gall bladder and 44 cases (21.30%) from the lymph nodes. The sensitivity was 92.3% while specificity was 100%. The Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) were 100% and 91.4%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of image guided FNAC was 95.8%. Conclusion: FNA of abdominal lesions guided by ultrasound is a quick, low-cost, safe, highly accurate, and minimally invasive approach for getting a tissue diagnosis in solid localised lesions of the abdomen.

The best-characterized gas evolution oscillator is the dehydration of formic acid in concentrated sulfuric acid. Reports on an improved demonstration which exhibits at least as dramatic behavior, although for a shorter time. Includes background information, principles illustrated, procedures used, and typical results obtained. (JN)

A continuous indirect electro-oxidation (EO) process was developed using graphite electrode to investigate the treatability of reactive turquoise blue RTB21 dye wastewater under specific operating conditions of initial pH, current density, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and electrolyte (NaCl) concentration. The experiments were performed in accordance with the central composite design (CCD), and the findings were used to create a model utilizing artificial neural networks (ANNs). According to the predicted findings of the ANN model, the MSE values for colour and COD removal efficiencies were estimated to be 0.748 and 0.870, respectively, while the R2 values were 0.9999 and 0.9998, respectively. The Multi-objective optimization using genetic algorithm (MOGA) over the ANN model maximizes the multiple responses: colour and COD removal efficiency (%). The MOGA generates a non-dominated Pareto front, which provides an insight into the process's optimum operating conditions.

A catalyst-free one-pot synthetic approach for the synthesis of substituted 1,2,3-triazole has been described. The reaction proceeds via the simple click chemistry as well as the formation of two new C-N bonds. A wide variety of substituted 1,2,3-triazoles were obtained in good yield by using both maleimides and 1,4-naphthoquinone as coupling partners. Moreover, one of our synthesised compounds has been confirmed by single-crystal XRD analysis. Molecular docking studies with EGFR-TK receptor revealed the lowest binding energy displayed by 5ba with a binding energy of −8.8 kcal/mol. Given all the simulation data, 18 out of 20 compounds possess promising anticancer activity against the 6TFU receptor. This inhibition property is improved efficiency than the commercially available drug Gefitinib and thus can be an excellent lead compound for cancer drug discovery.

Recent efforts towards developing novel lead electrodes involving carbon and lead composites have shown potential for increasing the cycle life of lead–acid (LA) batteries used to store energy in various applications. In this study, first-principles calculations are used to examine the structural stability, defect formation energy, and migration barrier of C in Pb for LA batteries. Density functional theory with the GGA-PBE functional performed the best out of various functionals used for structural stability calculations. Furthermore, with the complete incorporation of C in the Pb matrix, the results show that C is energetically preferred to be at the octahedral interstitial (CiOcta) site in the FCC structure of Pb. Additionally, climbing-image nudged elastic band calculations show a minimum energy pathway for C diffusing from a stable octahedral site to the adjacent octahedral site assisted by a tetrahedral intermediate site. Therefore, the minimum energy pathway for C migration is envisioned to be CiOcta→ CiTetra→CiOcta, where the total energy barrier is observed to be ~90% and more than 100% lower than the CiTetra→CiTetra and CiOcta→CiOcta barriers, respectively.

The capabilities of pure bacterial strains and their consortia isolated from agricultural soil were evaluated during a bioremediation process of the organophosphate pesticide malathion. The pure bacterial strains efficiently degraded 50.16–68.47% of the pesticide within 15 days of incubation, and metabolites were observed to accumulate in the soil. The consortia of three bacterial species [Micrococcus aloeverae (MAGK3) + Bacillus cereus (AGB3) + Bacillus paramycoides (AGM5)] degraded the malathion more effectively, and complete malathion removal was observed by the 15th day in soils inoculated with that consortium. In contrast, the combined activity of any two of these strains was lower than the mixed consortium of all of the strains. Individual mixed consortia of Micrococcus aloeverae (MAGK3) + Bacillus cereus (AGB3); Micrococcus aloeverae (MAGK3) + Bacillus paramycoides (AGM5); and Bacillus cereus (AGB3) + Bacillus paramycoides (AGM5) caused 76.58%, 70.95%, and 88.61% malathion degradation in soil, respectively. Several intermediate metabolites like malaoxon, malathion monocarboxylic acid, diethyl fumarate, and trimethyl thiophosphate were found to accumulate and be successively degraded during the bioremediation process via GC–MS detection. Thus, inoculating with a highly potent bacterial consortium isolated from in situ soil may result in the most effective pesticide degradation to significantly relieve soils from pesticide residues, and could be considered a prospective approach for the degradation and detoxification of environments contaminated with malathion and other organophosphate pesticides. This study reports the use of a mixed culture of Indigenous bacterial species for successful malathion degradation.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been responsible for the initiation of the global pandemic since 2020. The virus spreads through contaminated air particles, fomite, and surface-contaminated porous (i.e., paper, wood, and masks) and non-porous (i.e., plastic, stainless steel, and glass) materials. The persistence of viruses on materials depends on porosity, adsorption, evaporation, isoelectric point, and environmental conditions, such as temperature, pH, and relative humidity. Disinfection techniques are crucial for preventing viral contamination on animated and inanimate surfaces. Currently, there are few effective methodologies for preventing SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses without any side effects. Before infection can occur, measures must be taken to prevent the persistence of the coronavirus on the surfaces of both porous and non-porous inanimate materials. This review focuses on coronavirus persistence in surface materials (inanimate) and control measures. Viruses are inactivated through chemical and physical methods; the chemical methods particularly include alcohol, chlorine, and peroxide, whereas temperature, pH, humidity, ultraviolet irradiation (UV), gamma radiation, X-rays, ozone, and non-thermal, plasma-generated reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) are physical methods.

The present study assessed the accumulation and distribution of metals in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) fruits grown with wastewater. The concentrations of nine metals (Co, Cd, Mn, Cu, Ni, Fe, Zn, and Pb) were analyzed in wastewater collected from the study site. Four metals with substantially higher concentrations in wastewater, namely Fe, Zn, Mn, and Pb, were selected for further analysis in soil, plant organs, and parts of tomato fruits. In addition, the concentrations of essential nutrients (Na, K, Ca, P, and N) in all samples were also analyzed. Concentrations of Zn (0.77 mg L−1) and Pb (0.44 mg L−1) were found to be the maximum, and Mn concentration was the minimum (0.16 mg L−1) in wastewater samples. However, in soil samples, the concentrations of Fe (35.88 mg kg−1) and Pb (29.62 mg kg−1) were the highest, which ultimately led to their higher accumulation in plant tissues. When metal accumulation in the whole plant and tomato fruit was compared with the WHO permissible limits, the accumulated concentrations of Zn (16.35, 12.98, and 23.85 mg kg−1 d.wt. in peri-, endo-, and mesocarp, respectively), Mn (7.08, 7.75, and 4.6 mg kg−1 d.wt. in peri-, endo-, and mesocarp, respectively), and Pb (30.05, 29.42, and 34.95 mg kg−1 d.wt. in peri-, endo-, and mesocarp, respectively) exceeded the safe limits except for Fe (13.6, 32.3, and 63.43 mg kg−1 d.wt. in peri-, endo-, and mesocarp, respectively). Thus, the irrigation of tomato fruits with wastewater can cause health risks to humans under prolonged consumption, and the regular monitoring of metals is necessary to reduce the health risks from human consumption.

The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in iron (Fe) nanoparticles incorporated within a titanium nitride (TiN) thin-film matrix grown using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is investigated in this study. The study demonstrates the ability to control the entropy change across the magnetic phase transition by varying the size of the Fe nanoparticles. The structural characterization carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning transmission electron (TEM) showed that TiN films are (111) textured, while the Fe-particles are mostly spherical in shapes, are single-crystalline, and have a coherent structure with the surrounding TiN thin-film matrix. The TiN thin-film matrix was chosen as a spacer layer since it is nonmagnetic, is highly corrosion-resistive, and can serve as an excellent conduit for extracting heat due to its high thermal conductivity (11 W/m K). The magnetic properties of Fe–TiN systems were investigated using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. In-plane magnetic fields were applied to record magnetization versus field (M–H) and magnetization versus temperature (M–T) curves. The results showed that the Fe–TiN heterostructure system exhibits a substantial isothermal entropy change (ΔS) over a wide temperature range, encompassing room temperature to the blocking temperature of the Fe nanoparticles. Using Maxwell’s relation and analyzing magnetization–temperature data under different magnetic fields, quantitative insights into the isothermal entropy change (ΔS) and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) were obtained for the Fe–TiN heterostructure system. The study points out a considerable negative change in ΔS that reaches up to 0.2 J/kg K at 0.2 T and 300 K for the samples with a nanoparticle size on the order of 7 nm. Comparative analysis revealed that Fe nanoparticle samples demonstrate higher refrigeration capacity (RC) in comparison to Fe thin-film multilayer samples, with the RC increasing as the Fe particle size decreases. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential application of Fe–TiN heterostructures in solid-state cooling technologies, highlighting their enhanced magnetocaloric properties.

Phytofabrication of the nanoparticles with exotic shape and size is an attractive area where nanostructures with noteworthy physicochemical and optoelectronic properties that can be significantly employed for photocatalytic dye degradation. In this study a medicinal plant, Plumbago auriculata leaf extract (PALE) was used to synthesize zinc oxide particles (ZnOPs) and silver mixed zinc oxide particles (ZnOAg1Ps, ZnOAg10Ps, ZnO10Ag1Ps) by varying the concentration of the metal precursor salts, i.e. zinc acetate and silver nitrate. The PALE showed significantly high concentrations of polyphenols, flavonoids, reducing sugar, starch, citric acid and plumbagin up to 314.3 ± 0.33, 960.0 ± 2.88, 121.3 ± 4.60, 150.3 ± 3.17, 109.4 ± 2.36, and 260.4 ± 8.90 μg/ml, respectively which might play an important role for green synthesis and capping of the phytogenic nanoparticles. The resulting particles were polydispersed which were mostly irregular, spherical, hexagonal and rod like in shape. The pristine ZnOPs exhibited a UV absorption band at 352 nm which shifted around 370 in the Ag mixed ZnOPs with concomitant appearance of peaks at 560 and 635 nm in ZnO10Ag1Ps and ZnOAg1Ps, respectively. The majority of the ZnOPs, ZnOAg1Ps, ZnOAg10Ps, and ZnO10Ag1Ps were 407, 98, 231, and 90 nm in size, respectively. Energy dispersive spectra confirmed the elemental composition of the particles while Fourier transform infrared spectra showed the involvement of the peptide and methyl functional groups in the synthesis and capping of the particles. The composites exhibited superior photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye, maximum being 95.7% by the ZnOAg10Ps with a rate constant of 0.0463 s−1 following a first order kinetic model. The present result clearly highlights that Ag mixed ZnOPs synthesized using Plumbago auriculata leaf extract (PALE) can play a critical role in removal of hazardous dyes from effluents of textile and dye industries. Further expanding the application of these phytofabricated composites will promote a significant complementary and alternative strategy for treating refractory pollutants from wastewater.

Over time, the proportion of resistant bacteria will increase. This is a major concern. Therefore, effective and biocompatible therapeutic strategies against these bacteria are urgently needed. Non-thermal plasma has been exhaustively characterized for its antibacterial activity. This study aims to investigate the inactivation efficiency and mechanisms of plasma-generated nitric oxide water (PG-NOW) on pathogenic water, air, soil, and foodborne Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Using a colony-forming unit assay, we found that PG-NOW treatment effectively inhibited the growth of bacteria. Moreover, the intracellular nitric oxide (NO) accumulation was evaluated by 4-amino-5-methylamino-2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DAF-FM DA) staining. The reduction of viable cells unambiguously indicates the anti-microbial effect of PG-NOW. The soxR and soxS genes are associated with nitrosative stress, and oxyR regulation corresponds to oxidative stress in bacterial cells. To support the nitrosative effect mediated by PG-NOW, we have further assessed the soxRS and oxyR gene expressions after treatment. Accordingly, soxRS expression was enhanced, whereas the oxyR expression was decreased following PG-NOW treatment. The disruption of cell morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. In conclusion, our findings furnish evidence of an initiation point for the further progress and development of PG-NOW-based antibacterial treatments.

Extracts from medicinal plants are generally obtained by conventional methods like percolation and maceration. Owing to limitations of traditional methods and to meet the rising demand of extracts, the development of new green approaches is need of hour. In the present research, we have developed an ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method for the Nardostachys jatamansi (NJ) D. Don, DC roots and optimized the extraction parameters for possible improved extract yield. A multivariate optimization strategy using the Centre Composite Design coupled with response surface methodology was applied. A numerical optimization approach accurately predicted the extraction conditions (sonication time ∼ 20 min, ethanol ∼ 70 % and a liquid/solid ratio of about 21:1). Scanning electron microscopy of the plant samples after UAE also indicated the cavitation effect due to sound waves. GC–MS analysis of the optimized ultrasound extract (OUNJ) confirmed improvement in the concentration of various secondary metabolites like jatamansone (91.8 % increase), spirojatamol (42.3 % increase), globulol (130.4 % increase), sitosterol (84.6 % increase) as compared to the soxhlet extract (SXNJ). Different anti-oxidant parameters (DPPH, Glutathione, Catalase SOD and NO) were also significantly altered (p

With an alarming increase in the number of cancer patients and a variety of tumors, it is high time for intensive investigation on more efficient and potent anti-tumor agents. Though numerous agents have enriched the literature, still there exist challenges, with the availability of different targets and possible cross-reactivity. Herein we have chosen the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) as the target of interest and investigated the potential of pyrido fused imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline derivatives to bind strongly to the active site, thereby inhibiting the progression of various types of tumors. The AutoDock, Glide and the Prime-MM/GBSA analysis are used to execute the molecular docking investigation and validation for the designed compounds. The anti-tumor property evaluations were carried out by using PASS algorithm. Based on the GLIDE score, the binding affinity of the designed molecules towards the target PI3K was evaluated. The energetics associated with static interactions revealed 1j as the most potential candidate and the dynamic investigations including RMSD, RMSF, Rg, SASA and hydrogen bonding also supported the same through relative stabilization induced through ligand interactions. Subsequently, the binding free energy of the Wortmannin and 1j complex calculated using MM-PBSA analysis. Further evaluations with PASS prediction algorithm also supported the above results. The studies reveal that there is evidence for considering appropriate pyrido fused imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline compounds as potential anti-tumor agents.

This special issue delivers an applied and basic platform for exchanging advanced approaches or research performance that link the plasma physics research in cell biology, cancer treatments, immunomodulation, stem cell differentiation, nanomaterial synthesis, and their applications, agriculture and food processing, microbial inactivation, water decontamination, and sterilization applications, including in vitro and in vivo research [...]

This research demonstrates, a facile approach to fabricate the nano ZnO system in an unique combination of surfactant-polyol-assembly (SPA) acting as a caging agent restricting the ZnO crystallite size in nano-regime. This SPA is suitable for health and hygiene products and such optimized technique is among the very few researches exploring the impact of embedding low concentrations of nano ZnO system into the matrix of sodium salt of long chain fatty acids (soap bar) and liquid cleansing personal care products. The fabricated nano ZnO in SPA and infused products were systematically characterized using various advanced and appropriate techniques. The hexagonal wurtzite structure of nano ZnO-SPA is evaluated based on XRD pattern which also exhibit an average crystallite size as 20.18 nm and high specific surface area as 52.99 m2/g. The SEM-supported morphological assessment confirms the formation of agglomerates of ultrafine ZnO rods and spherical particles. Novel nano ZnO having wideband gap energy (3.66 eV) embedded in soap bar act as a UV-blocker preventing the oxidation of unsaturated long chain fatty acids. Soap bar without ZnO experienced degradation and reduction in whiteness to 17.85% whereas 2.5 mg/g nano ZnO infused soap shows the reduction to 7.9% which clearly reflects the increased photostability of soap bar. The antibacterial efficacy of nano ZnO-SPA and infused products are investigated against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) by Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) and European standard EN:1276. Infused products exhibited high antibacterial efficacy up to 4.43 log reduction equivalent to >99.99% germ kill.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented challenge to the healthcare system. Identifying the genomics and clinical biomarkers for effective patient stratification and management is critical to controlling the spread of the disease. Omics datasets provide a wealth of information that can aid in understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of COVID-19 and identifying potential biomarkers for patient stratification. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms have been increasingly used to analyze large-scale omics and clinical datasets for patient stratification. In this manuscript, we demonstrate the recent advances and predictive accuracies in AI- and ML-based patient stratification modeling linking omics and clinical biomarker datasets, focusing on COVID-19 patients. Our ML model not only demonstrates that clinical features are enough of an indicator of COVID-19 severity and survival, but also infers what clinical features are more impactful, which makes our approach a useful guide for clinicians for prioritization best-fit therapeutics for a given cohort of patients. Moreover, with weighted gene network analysis, we are able to provide insights into gene networks that have a significant association with COVID-19 severity and clinical features. Finally, we have demonstrated the importance of clinical biomarkers in identifying high-risk patients and predicting disease progression.