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Sustainability is emerging as a prominent curricular initiative at the undergraduate level, and as a result, involving students in real-world problems in the classroom and laboratory is an important goal. The specific problem of a dwindling supply of clean and safe drinking water is also of utmost importance and relevance. This general chemistry laboratory curriculum provides first-year students with an opportunity to design and implement their own experiments that employ fruit and vegetable peels as adsorbents to remove pollutants from water. The project is nine laboratory periods long, with the first 2 weeks devoted to providing students with the necessary tools to perform original research. In the third week, students visit the Dickinson College farm and brainstorm possible hypotheses. Working in pairs, students perform original research in the fourth through sixth weeks and investigate adsorption capacity and percent removal. In the final 3 weeks, students perform calculations and engage in peer review of their posters, which are presented at an all-college public poster session. This project introduces students to UV--vis and AA spectroscopy, making standard solutions and employing Beer's Law, as well as literature searching and experiment design. If time allows, FTIR spectroscopy may be employed to examine the chemical makeup of the peels. This curriculum can be used in subsets with additional guidance in a standard two-semester introductory course sequence.

Introduction: Autopsy plays a crucial role in understanding and identifying pulmonary pathology, encompassing non neoplastic lesions, neoplastic conditions and the secondary implications of the lungs in terminal events of cardiovascular diseases. Pathological analysis confirms diagnosis and identifies the prevalence of lesions, contributing significantly to medical understanding and patient care. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of lung pathology in autopsy specimens through Histopathological Examination (HPE). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional one-year study was conducted to determine the histopathological alterations in 132 lung autopsy specimens from Medicolegal autopsies received in the Department of Pathology at a tertiary care centre in Government Medical College, Cochin, Kerala, India from January 2021 to December 2021. Autopsy specimens of the lung were fixed in 10% formalin. Following gross examination, tissue sections were processed with paraffin and subjected to staining, with microscopy findings recorded. The data was numerically coded and entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 was used for descriptive statistics and graphical representations of findings. Results: The mean age of the study population, comprising 132 autopsy cases, was 49.41±52.12 years and the male-to-female ratio was 3.71:1. Most cases 97/132 (73.50%) involved sudden deaths where the cause remained unknown. Significant microscopic findings found in 117 (88.63%) cases were as follows: Pulmonary oedema and congestion: 61 (46.21%), Pneumonia: 17 (12.87%), Diffuse Alveolar Damage (DAD): 12 (9.09%), Chronic venous congestion: 8 (6.06%), Tuberculosis: 7 (5.30%), Emphysema: 7 (5.30%), Pulmonary fibrosis: 1 (0.75%), Fat embolism: 1 (0.75%) and Pulmonary arterial hypertension: 1 (0.75%). Neoplastic lesions were identified in 7 (5.30%) cases, with primary lung cancers accounting for 3 (2.27%) cases. There were 10 cases of Real-time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), positive Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) autopsies, of which 6 (60%) exhibited DAD, while 4 (40%) showed changes of bronchopneumonia. Conclusion: Non neoplastic lesions such as pulmonary oedema, DAD and infections contributed to mortality in most cases. DAD was the most common lung finding in more than half of COVID-19 deaths. The prevalence of pulmonary neoplastic lesions in autopsies underscores their epidemiological significance in a particular geographical area.

Pyrazoles are highly versatile and find applications in various industries including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, polymers, medications, and agriculture. Pyrazoles and their analogues exhibit a range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-tuberculosis, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic effects. In this context, this investigation focuses on the synthesis of pyrazoles containing heterocyclic components using Amberlite resin in reactions with ultrasonic irradiation. Synthesized pyrazoles containing heterocyclic components are intermediates of the apixaban API. Some pyrazole derivatives are key impurities of the apixaban API, which is synthesized by a multistep chemical conversion and has been reported previously. The use of the heterogeneous Amberlyst resin, which acts as a reusable catalyst and is gentle on reactions, allows for a more sustainable solution that reduces costs, accelerates reactions, and shortens reaction times. The procedures for using Amberlyst resin under ultrasonic irradiation to synthesize pyrazole derivatives are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly for chemical synthesis and material preparation. They also simplify workups and produce quality and yields comparable to or better than existing methods.

Introduction: Cardiac diseases emerge as the primary culprits behind sudden and unexplained deaths. Morphological evaluation through autopsy is invaluable in establishing the prevalence of cardiac lesions and coronary atherosclerosis within the general population. It provides healthcare researchers with valuable insights to develop preventive measures and early detection strategies crucial for improving survival rates. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of cardiac lesions in postmortem specimens of the heart from autopsies of sudden and unexplained deaths. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Government Medical College (a public sector hospital), Cochin, Kerala, India, from January to December 2021 on 140 specimens of the heart. Medicolegal autopsies were performed in the Department of Forensic Medicine, with specimens forwarded to the Pathology Department for histopathological examination. Hearts dissected by the modified Virchow’s method were examined for gross pathology in the cardiac wall, chambers, valves, coronaries and aorta. Microscopy findings were documented and the grading of coronary atherosclerosis was done using the Modified American Heart Association (AHA) criteria. Proportions were analysed from the compiled data using a Chi-square test. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0 software. Results: In the study encompassing 140 adult autopsies, the mean age of the study population was 45.98 with a Standard Deviation (SD) of 15.82 years and the male to female ratio was 3.5:1. The prevalence of cardiac lesions was as follows: coronary artery atherosclerosis (80.70%), Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD) (44.28%), cardiac hypertrophy and hypertension (10%), pericarditis (6.42%) and myocarditis (3.50%). The male-to-female ratio for coronary atherosclerosis was 4.4:1, with triple vessel disease observed in 42.90% of cases. Atherosclerosis severity grades included early non atheromatous lesions (19.3%), Pathological Intimal Thickening (PIT) (23.6%), and advanced atherosclerotic lesions (37.80%). Among cases associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related deaths (10.7%), changes noted included myocarditis, microhaemorrhages, oedema, capillary dilatation, fibrin deposition and inflammatory infiltrates. Conclusion: The present study revealed a high prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis affecting all three vessels, particularly among the younger population. This underscores the significance of screening for cardiovascular risk factors and implementing preventive measures from an early age.

With the aim to develop a FRET-based viscosity sensor, two dyad molecules, 4 and 5, comprising tetraarylpyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole (TAPP) (donor) and naked boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes (acceptor), were designed. Dyads were synthesized via acid-catalyzed multicomponent reactions followed by Sonogashira coupling. In both dyads, the BODIPY and TAPP moieties are linked through phenylethynyl groups, which allow free rotation of the BODIPY dyes; that is, they can act as molecular rotors. This was supported by X-ray crystallographic and DFT-optimized structures. Spectroscopic studies also confirmed the presence of both TAPP and BODIPY dyes in dyads with no electronic interactions that are suitable for fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Very high energy transfer efficiency (ETE >99%) from the donor TAPP moiety to the acceptor BODIPY moiety on excitation at the TAPP part was observed. However, due to the non-fluorescent nature of naked BODIPY dyes, no fluorescence emission was observed from the BODIPY moiety in both dyads. With increasing solvent viscosities, emission from the BODIPY moieties increases due to the restricted rotation of the BODIPY moieties. Plotting the logarithms of the fluorescent intensity of dyad 5 and the viscosity of the solution showed a good linear correlation obeying a Förster–Hoffmann equation. Non-fluorescent dyad 5 in methanol became greenish-yellow fluorescent in a methanol/glycerol (1:1) solvent. Furthermore, with an increase in the temperature of the methanol/glycerol (1:1) system, as the viscosity decreases, the fluorescence also starts decreasing. Thus, dyad 5 is capable of sensing the viscosity of the medium via a FRET-based “Off-On” mechanism. This type of viscosity sensor with a very large pseudo-Stokes shift and increased sensitivity will be useful for advancing chemo-bio sensing and imaging applications.

A new series of Pyridine and substituted aryl linked 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives (7a-j) were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer activities against HeLa, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and A549 cell lines by using standard MTT reduction assay protocol with doxorubicin as standard drug. It is very important to mention that all these synthesized derivatives do not show any cytotoxicity on HEK-293 kidney cell lines. Among them, the compound 7d showed better activity against HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 values of 1.8 ± 0.3 µM and 1.3 ± 0.11 µM.

Increasing energy storage demands, and the reducing device size have led to the development of high surface area nanoporous materials. However, the energy storage in such materials do not typically scale as expected according to the increase in the surface area. This is because of another capacitance that appears in series with the electric double-layer capacitors used for energy storage. This capacitance is termed quantum capacitance, which is although present in all materials but becomes considerable in value for materials with low density of electronic states. The quantum capacitance and its effects can greatly enhance our understanding of the double-layer capacitance. In this review, we present the understanding built behind quantum capacitance based on some of the some recent work elucidating the vastness of the area that can be explored.

The current research has involved to develop nanoparticles (NPs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) doped with silver (Ag) through an eco-friendly method. Eclipta prostrate (EP), Eclipta alba (EA), and Tridax procumbans (TP) are subjected to Soxhlet extraction using ethyl acetate. Alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenols were quantified using standard methods. Polyherbal extract was used to synthesize silver-zinc oxide nanocomposites (Ag-ZnO NCs) via the sol-gel method. The reduction of metal ions was confirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Polyherbal plants are found to have higher concentrations of phenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids than indigenous plants. Ag-ZnO NCs functional group has been identified using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy. UV–vis spectroscopy revealed the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of silver nanoparticles at 463–477 nm and zinc oxide nanoparticles at 266–267 nm. For Ag-ZnO NCs, the SPR peak was observed at 450 nm. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the spherical morphology of the Ag-ZnO NCs. The anti-microbial activity of the formulated Ag-ZnO NCs was more effective than the extract against all tested pathogens. The most effective antimicrobial activities are achieved for Ag-ZnO NCs at 50 µg and 200 µg for extract. Biosynthesized nanoparticles exhibit a significant anti-inflammatory effect of 68% at a low concentration of 500 µg/mL, greater than the efficacy of diclofenac sodium. Additionally, the synthesized Ag-ZnO nanoparticle demonstrated its stability for 90 days and showed strong antimicrobial properties.

Polypyrrole (PPy) was synthesized effectively by chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole. Organic-inorganic hybrid materials PPy-TiO2 with different PPy weight percents were prepared by mechanical mixing, by using titanium oxide nanoparticles. The characterizations of PPy-TiO2 hybrid nanocomposites were analyzed by FTIR, UV–Vis, XRD, TGA & DSC and SEM & EDAX. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to distinguish the structure of the attained PPy-TiO2 hybrid nanocomposites. UV–vis techniques are proved the polymerization of pyrrole monomer and the strong interaction between PPy and TiO2 nanoparticles. Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA-DSC) curves revealed that TiO2 can decrease the weight loss of nanocomposite and increase the thermal stability of synthesized nanocomposites. The residual mass of the pure Pyy-36.51 %, PPy-TiO2 (25 %)-64.82 %, PPy-TiO2 (50 %)-60.82 %, PPy-TiO2 (75 %)-70.50 % and pure TiO2- 96.69 % nanocomposites at the residual temperature 497.80 °C. The morphology and molecular structure of the hybrid nanocomposite were characterized by scanning electron microscope & Energy dispersive X-ray analysis spectroscopy (SEM & EDAX). These characterization results confirmed the polymerization of pyrrole and the strong interaction between PPy and TiO2. The material with outstanding absorption capability that meet in optical application is the challenging way, thus the photocatalytic analysis of PPy-TiO2 hybrid nanocomposites is merely a admissible results. It is notably the favorable degradation efficiency of pure PPy, the PPy+TiO2 (25 % 50 % & 75 %) nanocomposites are 82 %, 66 %, 67 % and 53 % respectively.

The present study focussed on the Scallop Sea shell waste utilized Hydroxyapatite and green synthesis of Canna indica leaf extracted Zinc (Zn) and Silver (Ag) doped Hydroxyapatite (HAp) formed by microwave irradiation method which is respectively represented as H, CIZH, and CIAH. The functional and structural characterizations (FTIR and XRD) of products confirm that the formed material was Hydroxyapatite due to the existence of characteristic absorption peaks and diffracted planes. The structural parameters such as average crystallite size, micro-strain (ε), dislocation density (δ), and particle size of the H, CIZH, and CIAH were calculated and the average Crystallite size are 42, 40, and 31nm. The morphology of the H, CIZH, and CIAH were assessed through FE-SEM and HR-TEM which could be majorly hexagonal-like (well distinct, and cluster of few rods). The EDAX spectrum and mapping confirmed the presence of chemical compositions of studied products. The anti-bacterial activities of studied products were assessed against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, which exhibit good antibacterial activity. The photocatalytic activity of H, CIZH, and CIAH was examined against Methylene blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (RhB) dyes under UV light illumination. The degradation efficiency (%) of H, CIZH, and CIAH against MB and RhB dye were 58, 63, and 71%, and 58, 82 and 90%, respectively. A possible mechanism of the photocatalytic activity against the above-mentioned dyes is proposed. Thus, the present CIAH photocatalyst could be effective in degrading the wastewater.

Coldeniaprocumbens leaf extract assisted green synthesis of gadolinium-doped bismuth oxide nanoparticles (Gd-Bi2O3NPs) was demonstrated. Electron microscopic analysis indicated that the Gd-Bi2O3 has nanoflake-like shape with a narrow size distribution of 20–30 nm. FT-IR and XRD analysis confirmed the doping of Gd-ions into Bi2O3 crystal structure. The UV–vis spectral investigation was carried to know the characteristic absorbance peaks and the band gap of Gd-Bi2O3 samples. The antibacterial activity of Gd-Bi2O3 samples was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis. The larvicidal activity of Gd-Bi2O3 samples was also evaluated against the mosquito larvae of Aedesaegypti and Aedesalbopictus. Furthermore, the photocatalytic potential of Gd-Bi2O3 samples has been evaluated using malachite green (MG) and methylene blue (MB) dyes under visible light radiation. The green Gd-Bi2O3 samples displayed potent antibacterial, larvicidal, and photocatalytic activities, making them a promising candidate for environmental remediation applications.

Thorium is considered as a promising resource for the production of nuclear power, with its abundance in the Earth's crust offering potential for sustainable energy generation to fulfill upcoming energy needs. As a fertile material, thorium has the capability to be converted into fissile uranium-233, which is essential for sustaining nuclear chain reactions. Therefore, the extraction of thorium from the Earth's crust is imperative for its utilization as fuel in nuclear reactors. This study presents the synthesis of titanium dioxide with a mesoporous structure using the solvothermal method for extracting Th(IV) from aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to evaluate the impact of solution pH, adsorption kinetics, adsorbent dosage, initial Th(IV) concentration, and temperature. The adsorption process is influenced by the pH, showing a maximum adsorption capacity of 101.4 mg per gram of mesoporous TiO2 adsorbent (MTA) at an initial Th(IV) concentration of 400 mg L − 1 at pH 4.0. Results indicate a significant correlation with the pseudo-second-order and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. Temperature-dependent investigations revealed that the adsorption of Th(IV) is spontaneous at room temperature and increases with higher temperatures (endothermic process). Moreover, the study highlights the rapid kinetics of Th(IV) adsorption by MTA, making it a favorable choice for upscaling the extraction process of Th(IV). In conclusion, the results suggest MTA as a promising adsorbent for the removal of Th(IV) from aqueous solutions.

The variation of possessions of Mn doped in ZnO thin films grown by SILAR technique for various Mn concentrations presented. Thin films of Mn doped ZnP were deposited and uniformly annealed at 300 °C for a 30 min. The annealed films are then characterized by various methods like XRD, SEM, EDAX, VSM respectively. The x-ray diffraction studies confirm the emergence of ZnO. From the SEM, various morphologies were identified based on concentration of the solution bath employed. Due to this reason, spherical shoot, rice and flower morphologies were observed on the surface of the films. These morphologies may influence the application of ammonia gas sensor. From compositional analysis (EDAX), the presence of dopant and the variation in composition of doped materials were estimated. Magnetic studies shows, these films show ferromagnetic behaviour at room temperature. The ammonia gas response of the Mn doped ZnO thin films varied with Mn concentration of 0, 5 and 10. The outcomes of the gas sensing experiments showed that the Mn doped ZnO thin film was more sensitive to ammonia, but that sensitivity decreased as gas pressure increased. Ammonia gas showed an increase in the acidic surface properties of Mn-doped ZnO thin film. At room temperature, Mn-doped ZnO (0 %, 5 % and 10 %) showed responses of 19.20, 27.61 and 32.26 to 100 ppm NH3 gas, which were significantly higher than those of ZnO. The Mn-doped ZnO sensor shows excellent selectivity compared to ZnO and has good stability.

This study describes the preparation of MOF and its polymer composites, namely Co@BTC(MOF1), Co@BTC(PAA)(MOF2), and Co@BTC(PAA)(CTAB)(MOF3), by assimilating cobalt nitrate hexahydrate [(CoNO3)2·6H2O] with trimesic acid, polyacrylic acid (PAA), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) using a solvothermal procedure at 100℃ for 12 h. All MOF composites exhibited remarkable adsorption properties and thermal and chemical stability properties. These polymer composite MOFs are explored for the adsorption of anionic dyes such as Methyl Orange (MO) and Congo Red (CR), cationic dye Methylene Blue (MB), and Chromium (VI) from wastewater. A 90–95 % adsorption rate for MO and CR dyes was observed within 60 min using 100 mg of MOF composites. Within 60 min, the MOF composites achieved an adsorption rate of 90–95 % for MO and CR dyes when 100 mg of the composites were used. Furthermore, MOF2 and MOF3 have exhibited a remarkable 92 % efficiency in adsorbing Cr(VI) during one hour, following a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The composites were examined for their anti-bacterial efficacy against Bacillus (Gram-positive), E. Coli (Gram-negative), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results were compared to ciprofloxacin, a conventional antibiotic, using the agar diffusion method. MOF2 and MOF3 have demonstrated long-lasting and potent antimicrobial activity, successfully inhibiting the growth of bacteria for a period of at least 90 days. Furthermore, the polymer composites of MOFs exhibit notable capability in scavenging radicals, particularly against ascorbic acid, as determined by the DPPH method. The inhibition rates for the composites are 68.7 % and 65.9 %, respectively. This indicates that these polymer MOF composites possess potent anti-microbial activity, making them an ideal candidate for addressing the inhibition of bacterial growth.

The eco-friendly synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) in the materials science and engineering research field has a great attraction, especially molybdenum-based nanomaterials. Recently, molybdenum-based nanomaterials have become popular in various industrial sectors due to their versatile properties. The current study deals with the synthesis of molybdenum oxide (MoO3) NPs using Terminalia arjuna bark extract. The prepared sample is annealed at different temperatures such as 100, 300, 500, and 700 °C. These samples are characterized by UV–vis, FTIR, and XRD techniques. The XRD analysis of the MoO3 NPs prepared at 700 °C reveals an orthorhombic structure with better crystallinity. The sample is annealed at 700 °C subjected to SEM, EDX, and TEM analysis. EDX elemental analysis reveals the presence of Mo (84.43 wt.%) and O (15.57 wt.%). TEM image interpretation shows the cubic and spherical-shaped particles ranging from 50 to 600 nm. The different concentrations of (1, 2.5, and 5 mg/ml) MoO3 NPs tested for antibacterial application. Better activity is noted against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 5 mg/ml. The biocompatibility assessment of synthesized MoO3 NPs was evaluated against the model organism Artemia salina nauplii. As a result, none of the tested concentrations revealed the mortality of A. salina nauplii.

In the present work, manganese–copper co-infused nickel oxide nanoparticles (MnCu co-doped NiO NPs) were formulated via a green process using Carica papaya extract. The MnCu co-doped NiO NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis, Fourier transform infrared, field emission scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum. The XRD pattern demonstrated that synthesized MnCu co-doped NiO NPs exhibit cubic structure. On the PL spectrum, various surface defects were identified. MnCu co-doped NiO NPs exhibited ferromagnetic properties at 37°C. The antimicrobial activity of green synthesis MnCu co-doped NiO NPs against human pathogens (Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Shigella dysenteriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Candida albicans as fungal strains were demonstrated. The MnCu co-doped NiO NPs treatment considerably reduced MDA-MB-231 cell viability while not disturbing HBL-100 cell viability. Different fluorescent staining analyses revealed that MnCu co-doped NiO NPs induced nuclear and mitochondrial damage to improve free radical production, altering mitochondrial membrane protein potential, which led to apoptotic cell death in MDA-MB-231 cells. The MnCu co-doped NiO NP treatment enhanced pro-apoptotic protein expression and inhibited the cell cycle at the S phase in MDA-MB-231 cells. This makes it easy, cheap, and environmentally friendly to make MnCu co-doped NiO NPs using C. papaya extract, which has excellent antimicrobial properties.

In the present work, a new protocol was developed for the synthesis of 2,4,5-triaryl imidazoles via three component condensation of aryl aldehyde, benzil and ammonium acetate in the presence of 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluoro phosphate ([BMIM][PF6]) as a catalyst under reflux in ethanol. The present protocol has many beneficial advantages such as excellent yields, easy workup procedure, green catalyst and purification of the targeted molecules without the use of column chromatography which increases the green chemistry value of the present work.

The effect of sintering temperature on the structural, magnetic, and dielectric properties of NiCr2O4 ceramics was investigated. A powder X-ray analysis indicates that the prepared nanocrystallites effectively inhibit the cooperative Jahn–Teller distortion, thereby stabilizing the high-temperature cubic phase structure with space group Fd-3m. Multiple transitions are confirmed by temperature-dependent magnetization M(T) data. Moreover, the magnetization value decreases and the Curie temperature increases with a decrease in the crystallite size. The low-temperature-dependent real permittivity (ε′-T) for a NiCr2O4 crystallite size of 78 nm exhibits a broad maximum at 40 K that is independent of frequency. This establishes a correlation between electric ordering and the underlying magnetic structure. The temperature dependency of the dielectric constant at fixed frequencies for both NiCr2O4 crystallite sizes rises with temperature for a certain range of frequencies. A significant improvement is evident: the dielectric constant (ε’) at room temperature reaches approximately 5738 for the sample with 28 nm crystallites, while the 78 nm crystallite sample shows a noticeable drop to ε’~174. The frequency-dependent conductivity curves for both types of NiCr2O4 nanocrystallites have different conductivity values. The lower-crystallite-size sample demonstrates higher conductivity values than the 78 nm crystallite size one. This observation is attributed to the decrease in crystallite size, which increases the number of grain boundaries and, consequently, scatters a higher number of charge carriers.

Structurally diverse fused polycyclic pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinolinone/pyrrolizino[2,3-c]quinolinone hybrids were synthesized to get excellent yields via a tandem multi-component reaction sequence employing an environmentally benign solid state melt reaction involving [3+2]-cycloaddition process followed by two consecutive annulation steps. Baylis–Hillman products, used as dipolarophiles, were synthesized from various substituted aryl/heteroaryl aldehydes in the presence of DABCO and methyl acrylate, while the 1,3-dipole component was derived in situ from indoline-2,3-dione and acyclic/cyclic amino acid viz N-methylgylcine/l-proline. The structure of the unusual tandem products was unambiguously assigned by spectroscopic and XRD analysis. The products arose through the formation of three new rings, five new bonds, and three adjoining stereocenters with complete diastereomeric control.

Bioactive compounds produced by fungal endophytes have potential benefits, such as low cost, rapid growth, facile genetic manipulation, and industrial scale-up with fewer negative effects. Millingtonia hortensis is a valuable medicinal plant found throughout South Asia. To the best of our knowledge, no reports are available for the screening of endophytic fungal taxol in this medicinal plant. Hence, seven previously reported endophytic fungi from Millingtonia hortensis L. were used in the present study. Of these, five were found to produce taxol. The agar well diffusion method was used to assess the antibacterial and antifungal activities of partially pure fungal taxol against human and fungal pathogens. Fungal taxol effectively inhibited all tested pathogens. Based on the significant antibacterial activity, the sorting of bacterial cells against the compounds (MID6 and MID9) was analyzed by flow cytometry. MID9 showed a moderate level of cell death compared to the control. The MTT assay was used to examine the cytotoxic effects of fungal taxol against the human liver cancer cell line HepG2. A significant decrease (0.05–0.5 μM) was observed in the cell viability and IC50 dosage was fixed as 0.25 μM after 24 h of treatment. Morphological changes were also observed. From these results, we conclude that this is the first description of the taxol-yielding potential of Cochliobolus hawaiiensis. In addition, fungal taxols exhibit potential antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer effects. In the future, Cochliobolus hawaiiensis could be a new source of taxol, a revolutionary therapeutic drug.

Herein, we evaluate the conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) photosensitized using two different natural dyes extracted from Alpinia purpurata and Alstroemeria flower petals. The appreciable absorption capacity of the extracts in the visible light region was examined through absorption spectroscopy. The functional groups of the corresponding pigments were identified through Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR) technique thus indicating the presence of cyanidin 3-glycosides and piperine in the flowers of Alstroemeria and Alpinia purpurata. The extracted dyes were immobilized on TiO2 on transparent conducting FTO glass, which were used as photoanode. The dye-coated TiO2 photoanode, pt photocathode and iodide/triiodide redox electrolyte assembled into a cell module was illuminated by a light source intensity 100 mW/cm2 to measure the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of DSSCs. The TiO2 anode and Pt counter electrode surface roughness and morphological studies were evaluated using atomic force microscope (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), respectively. Through the photoelectric characterizations, it was promising to verify that the solar conversion efficiency was calculated with the photovoltaic cell sensitized by Alstroemeria and Alpinia purpurata. This was achieved with a yield (η) of 1.74% and 0.65%, with an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.39 and 0.53 V, short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 2.04 and 0.49 mA/cm2, fill factor (FF) of 0.35 and 0.40, and Pmax of 0.280 and 0.100 mW/cm2, respectively. The results are promising and demonstrate the importance of the search for new natural dyes to be used in organic solar cells for the development of devices that generate electricity in a sustainable way.

The two most prominent areas of nanotechnology and nanoscience are environmental remediation and biomedical applications, which has a strong need to develop cleaner and more eco-friendly methods for preparing functional nanomaterials. This involves incorporating non-toxic chemicals and reagents for converting metal cations into metal or metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs), using readily available plant reagents and microbes as redox mediators. The extracts of these plants and microbes contain varying amounts of phytochemicals and metabolites that act as redox mediators and capping agents to stabilize biosynthesized NPs. Considering these natural reagents for forming metal/metal oxide NPs, the present work aims to provide a complete review of the green fabrication of nickel oxide (NiO) NPs using extracts from various plant and microbial sources. In addition, the performance of various biosynthesized NiO NPs and their potential uses in biological applications are discussed.

In this study, we evaluated the antiproliferative and apoptotic properties of Pluronic-F127-containing manganese oxide nanoparticles (PF-127-coated Mn2O3 NPs) derived from the leaf extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (GU) on breast adenocarcinoma, MCF7, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The leaf extract of GU contains bioactive molecules that act as a reducing or capping agent to form Mn2O3 NPs. Various analytical techniques were used to characterize the physiochemical properties of PF-127-coated Mn2O3 NPs, including spectroscopy (ultralight-Vis, Fourier transform infrared, photoluminescence), electron microscopy (field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron diffracted X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), and dynamic light scattering. The average crystallite size of Mn2O3 NPs was estimated to be 80 nm, and the NPs had a cubic crystalline structure. PF127-encapsulated Mn2O3 NPs significantly reduce MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell proliferation, while increasing endogenous ROS and lowering mitochondrial matrix protein levels. DAPI, EtBr/AO dual staining, and Annexin-V-FITC-based flow cytometry analysis revealed that PF127-coated Mn2O3 NP-treated breast cancer cells exhibit nuclear damage and apoptotic cell death, resulting in cell cycle arrest in the S phase. Furthermore, PF127-encapsulated Mn2O3 NPs show strong antimicrobial efficacy against various strains. As a result, we can conclude that PF127-coated Mn2O3 NPs may be effective as future anticancer agents and treatment options for breast cancer.

Natural lipids with nutritional or therapeutic benefits that also provide desired texture, melting and organoleptic appeal (mouthfeel, skin feel) are difficult to procure for the food and cosmetics industries. Natural Astrocaryum pulp oil (AVP) and kernel fat (AVK) from Guyana were blended without further modification to study the potential of extending the physical functionality of the blends beyond that of crude AVK and AVP. An evaluation of non-lipid components by ESI-MS indicated twenty-four (24) bioactive molecules, mainly carotenoids (90%), polyphenols (9%) and sterols (1%) in AVP, indicating important health and therapeutic benefits. Only trace-to-negligible amounts of these compounds were detected in AVK. The thermal transition phase behavior, solid fat content (SFC), microstructure and textural properties of five AVP/AVL blends were used to construct phase diagrams of the AVK/AVP binary system. Binary phase diagrams constructed from the cooling and heating DSC thermograms of the mixtures and description of the liquidus line indicated a mixing behavior close to ideal with a tendency for order, with no phase separation. Melting onsets, solid fat content and measurements of solid-like texture all predictively increased with increasing AVK content. The descriptive decay parameters obtained for SFC, crystal size, hardness, firmness and spreadability were similar and predictive and indicate the way the binary system structure approaches that of a liquid or a functional solid. The bioactive content of the blends was accurately calculated; the work provides a blueprint for the blending of AVP and AVK to deliver targeted bioactive content, stability, spreadability, texture, melting profile, organoleptic appeal and solid content. SFCs at 20 °C ranged from 9.1% to 39.1%, melting onset from −17.5 °C to 27.8 °C, hardness from 0.1 N to 3.5 N and spreadability from 3.3 N·s to 147.1 N·s; indicating a useful dynamic range of physical properties suitable for bioactive oils to bioactive butters.

Cutting tool coolant channels play a pivotal role in machining processes, facilitating the efficient supply of cooling agents to high-stress areas and effective heat dissipation. Achieving optimal cooling at the tool’s cutting-edge is essential for enhancing production processes. Experimental investigations into tribological stress analysis can be limited in accessing complex tool–workpiece contact zones, prompting the use of numerical modelling to explore fluid dynamics and tribology. In this study, the coolant flow dynamics and heat dissipation in drilling operations were comprehensively investigated through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling. Four twist drill models with varying coolant channel arrangements were studied: standard model drill, standard model drill with notch, profile model drill, and profile model drill with notch. Two distinct approaches are applied to the coolant inlet to assess the impact of operating conditions on fluid flow and heat dissipation at the cutting-edge. The findings emphasize that cutting-edge zones have insufficient coolant supply, particularly in modified drill models such as the standard model drill with notch and profile model drills with and without notch. Moreover, enhanced coolant supply at the cutting-edge is achieved under high-pressure inlet conditions. The standard model drill with a notch exhibited exceptional performance in reducing thermal load, facilitating efficient coolant escape to the flute for improved heat dissipation at the cutting-edge. Despite challenges like dead zones in profile models, the standard-with-notch model yielded the most promising results. Further analyses under constant pressure conditions at 40 and 60 bar exhibited enhanced fluid flow rates, particularly at the cutting-edge, leading to improved heat dissipation. The temperature distribution along the cutting-edge and outer corner demonstrated a decrease as the pressure increased. This study underscores the critical role of both coolant channel design and inlet pressure in optimizing coolant flow dynamics and heat transfer during drilling operations. The findings provide valuable insights for designing and enhancing coolant systems in machining processes, emphasizing the significance of not only coolant channel geometry but also inlet pressure for effective heat dissipation and enhanced tool performance.

In this paper, the electrochemical non-enzymatic detection of Riboflavin (RF) was proposed based on its catalytic reduction in a Thionine-coated Cadmium Selenide Quantum dots (TH@CdSe QDs)-modified paraffin wax-impregnated graphite electrode (PIGE) that was prepared using a novel approach. The synthesized TH@CdSe QDs were confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Confocal Raman Microscopy and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) studies. The electrochemical response of the TH@CdSe QDs-modified PIGE was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The voltammetric response of RF at the TH@CdSe QDs-modified PIGE showed higher current than the bare PIGE. Under optimum conditions, the electrocatalytic reduction currents of RF was found to be linearly related to its concentration over the range of 1.6 × 10−7 M to 1.4 × 10−4 M with a detection limit of 53 × 10−9 M (S/N = 3). The TH@CdSe QDs-modified PIGE was utilized as an amperometric sensor for the detection of RF in flow systems was performed by carrying out hydrodynamic and chronoamperometric experiments. The TH@CdSe QDs-modified PIGE showed very good stability and a longer shelf life. The applicability of the fabricated electrode was justified by the quantification of RF in commercial tablets.

Everything around us is made up of atoms and molecules. The properties of quantum atoms are sought to understand the behavior of a particular object. But with the advent of research, it was discovered that there is a quantity smaller than the molecular size. The nanoscale measures a fraction of a billionth of a meter. The atom of an object measures 0.1 nm. Since atoms are the building blocks of matter, at the nanoscale one can combine these atoms to create new materials. The proposed model displays the properties of these nano-scale elements in modern medical applications. The nano-scale research of matter is fascinating because it is the basic phase in which atoms are held together. Therefore, by manipulating material at this level, one can create many different types of objects. This proposed model calculates the operation requirements and expects the results. Based on the operational requirements, the proposed model provides the suggestions. This will be helpful for the medical researchers to identify the proper medical treatments based on the microbiological requirements.

An efficient and environmentally benign synthesis of a new class of acridinedione embedded spirooxindolo/acenaphthenothiopyrrolizidines and spirooxindolo/acenathenoindolizidines has been synthesized in good to excellent yields employing ionic liquid accelerated one-pot [3 + 2]-cycloaddition strategy. The pre-requisite starting substrates, O-acryloyl acridinediones were prepared from dimedone in three good yielding steps, while the 1,3-dipole was derived in situ from isatin/acenaphthenequinone and thiazolidine-4-carboxylc acid/l-pipecolinic acid via decarboxylative condensation. The cycloadduct possesses three stereogenic carbons, one of which is a spiro carbon through the formation of two C–C and one C–N bonds in one-pot synthetic transformation. Geometrical parameters of the synthesized compounds were calculated using the B3LYP/6-311g(d,p) level of theory. The activity of these molecules was evaluated against main protease of COVID-19 to screen them for their inhibitor efficiency. In order to get a broad understanding of the interactions of these synthesized ligands, a detailed molecular docking analysis was performed. Molecular docking analysis shows that compound 8b has the highest binding affinity toward the protein. The compound can be a potential candidate for the treatment of COVID-19.

A feasible alternative to classic chemical synthesis, the phyto-mediated production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) utilizing aqueous flower petal extract of Cassia alata as a reducing agent is reported for the first time. Characterization of synthesized AgNPs was carried out using various techniques viz., ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The results of the FTIR research conducted in this study show different bond stretches with varying durations, which can be seen at various faraway points. AgNPs are mainly spherical and vary in size from 20 to 100 nm, according to TEM images. The highest X-ray energy surge, at 3 keV, is visible in the EDX spectrum. The XRD pattern showed that four diffraction peaks could be assigned to the 111, 200, 220, and 311 planes of the face-centered cubic crystalline silver, respectively, at 32.05, 46.27, 55.25, and 57.39°. Optimization of production parameters including pH, metal ion concentration, and substrate concentrations were studied. In addition, the bioactivity was evaluated against Trichophyton rubrum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Mucor sp. using the agar diffusion method. Furthermore, their antioxidant properties were assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate assay and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power tests. MTT assay was performed using human fibroblast cell line (L929) to determine the cell viability and cytotoxicity through increased metabolism of the tetrazolium salt.