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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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cancer is a serious health problem, with a rising trend in its occurrence documented globally. Female breast cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide with treatment consisting of different strategies like mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Anticancer property has been studied in withaferin-A (WA), a bioactive compound of Withania somnifera. Another natural substance derived from bees, propolis, has been investigated for many beneficial effects on human diseases. The current study aims to investigate the ameliorative efficacy and antiproliferative potential of combinational drug therapy of withaferin-A and propolis on breast cancer cells. By evaluating the levels of glycoproteins, nucleic acids, and the marker enzymes in benzo[a]pyrene-induced breast cancer-bearing female Wistar rats, the pharmacodynamic effects of withaferin-A and propolis drug combination were examined. Biochemical analysis of DNA, RNA, and protein levels in the liver demonstrated typical results after propolis therapy. Withaferin-A and propolis drug combination treatment significantly decreased nucleic acid synthesis, indicating that combination chemotherapy has increased breast tumoricidal efficiency. The pharmacological combination therapy exhibited the capacity to control glycoproteins associated with tumor growth (hexose, hexosamine, and sialic acid), with a considerable decrease in their levels detected. Histopathological analysis of the mammary glands demonstrated a decrease in hyperplasia and cell proliferation, indicating that the treatment has the ability to reverse architectural and morphological abnormalities associated with breast cancer. This study found that natural drug compounds in combination have shown regenerative and regulating effects when given to rats carrying the breast cancer gene.

Purpose. The present study aimed to improve the aqueous solubility, permeability, bioavailability, and nootropic potential of standardized Emblica officinalis extract (EOE) by developing a novel phytosomal formulation. Method. Emblica officinalis extract-loaded phytosomes (EOPs) were prepared using solvent evaporation. The EOP was prepared at different molar ratios of extract and phospholipid. Herein, the effects of phospholipid extract ratio (A), temperature (B), and reaction time (C) were systematically investigated on entrapment efficiency using Box-Behnken design. In vitro and in vivo characterizations of the optimized formulation were performed. Results. Optimized EOP formulation (89.90 ± 0.24 μg/ml) exhibited improved aqueous solubility than plain EOE (11.85 ± 0.25 μg/ml). The optimized formulation’s particle size and Zeta potential were 198.4 ± 0.20 nm and −39.0 ± 0.40 mv. DSC and XRD studies confirmed the partial amorphization of EOE in phytosomes. Optimized formulation exhibited 69.82 ± 0.17% of EOE release at 12 h and followed zero-order release kinetics. Moreover, the phytosomal formulation of EOE exhibited its rationality with an improvement of bioavailability by 2.7 folds compared with pure EOE. Compared to EOE, EOP showed significantly (p

Green synthetic methods are currently preferred in industry over other physicochemical methods. Herein, we present a facile, environmentally friendly, non-toxic approach for the fabrication of MgO using jamun fruit extract. The phytochemicals present in the fruit extract, such as kaemferol, glucoside, anthocyanins, ellagic acid, myricetin, and isoquercetin, facilitate the bio-reduction of Mg(NO3)2. Pure and Sm3+ (1–7 mol %) doped MgO nanomaterials were synthesized using this bio-mediated synthetic method. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized nanomaterials were studied using Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and Diffused Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) techniques. The effect of Sm3+ ions on the host matrix for the photo-catalytic oxidation of Fast Orange-Red (FOR) dye was investigated under UV light irradiation. MgO: Sm3+(3 mol %) exhibited superior (94 %) degradation of the dye compared to pristine and other doped catalysts, attributed to the maximum migration of charge carriers at the catalyst's surface. Additionally, the 3 mol % Sm3+ doped MgO electrode demonstrated a smaller charge transfer resistance, indicating superior capacitive properties compared to pristine and other doped electrodes. The synthesized materials also exhibited effective bacterial activity against pathogens. This research demonstrates the potential of the synthesized nanomaterials for environmental pollution purification, as well as their utility as electrode materials for supercapacitors, batteries, sensors, and antibacterial applications.

The development of nanotechnology has a major impact on pharmaceutical sciences, dramatically improving diagnosis and treatment of many diseases that are life-threatening. A number of metallic nanoparticles are widely employed as nanomedicines because they may have medicinal applications. The environmental pollution from textile industry is one the big global problems that pose substantial risks to the environment and public health. Finding affordable, efficient, and sustainable technology to solve the challenges with pollution is crucial. In the present study we developed multi-functional Ag-doped CuO nanoparticles by utilizing Actinidia delicia extract by employing solution combustion method. The synthesized nanoparticles were examined by Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy including energy dispersion X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and UV–visible spectroscopy. The synthesized nanoparticles have a variety of applications including anticancer, antibacterial, and antidiabetic agents via modulating the activities of carbohydrate digesting enzymes, and they also exhibit effective photocatalytic activity by degrading the methylene blue dye. Platelet aggregation and plasma coagulation were both enhanced by Ag-doped copper oxide nanoparticles, and this was achieved without any noticeable haemolytic activity. This study presents an eco-friendly method for producing multifunctional Ag-CuO nanoparticles.

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Its tumor microenvironment is characterized by severe nutrient deprivation and hypoxia, leading to the activation of adaptive pathways that allow cancer cells to survive and thrive under these harsh conditions. This makes conventional therapies less effective, highlighting the urgent need for novel treatment strategies. Naphthoquinones have recently emerged as promising anti-austerity agents, demonstrating preferential cytotoxicity against pancreatic cancer cells in nutrient-deprived medium (NDM). To further explore their potential, we investigated the structure–activity relationships and mechanism of action of a library of 28 natural and synthetic naphthoquinones. Our results reveal a significant influence of functional groups at positions C-2, C-3, C-5, and C-6 on anticancer activity. Strong electron-donating substituents at C-3 decreased the activity, while electron-withdrawing groups at C-3 and H-bond acceptors at C-6 (without H-bond donor activity) increased the potency. The naphthoate esters 4 and 5 exhibited the strongest activity against PANC-1 cells, with PC50 values of 0.87 and 0.42 μM, respectively. These compounds significantly altered cancer cell morphology, induced apoptosis, and inhibited colony formation. Further investigation revealed that compound 5 downregulated the expression of Akt and p-Akt(S473) proteins, suggesting that its anti-austerity activity might involve suppression of the Akt signaling pathway. These findings demonstrate the immense potential of naphthoquinones as novel anticancer agents targeting the austerity-adapted pancreatic cancer cells. Further development of these promising compounds holds significant potential for treating this devastating disease.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were formed through a simple green synthesis route using Vitex negundo (V. negundo) leaf extract as reducing and capping source. Morphological, structural, chemical and optical features of the prepared ZnO NPs were examined by field emission SEM, XRD, EDAX, PL, FTIR and UV–vis DRS, respectively. FESEM images precisely visualized morphology of the ZnO NPs as spherical with particles size ranges between 5 and 35 nm having a mean diameter of ∼ 19 nm. XRD pattern revealed formation of hexagonal wurtzite structured ZnO NPs with high crystallinity. Further, the observed asymmetric stretching vibration of Zn-O bond confirmed the formation of hexagonal wurtzite structured ZnO NPs. Photocatalytic activity of the ZnO NPs was assessed against methylene blue (MB) dye degradation under natural sunlight illumination. Results of the photocatalytic experiment disclosed an impressive MB dye degradation efficiency of 98.50 % at 60 min. Moreover, green synthesized ZnO NPs exhibited a maximum mineralization (TOC removal) efficiency of 92.34 % at 5 h of sunlight illumination.

Despite decades of research, anticancer medication therapy is still largely constrained to prevent growth and limit the spread of tumour cells. To speed up the process of finding anticancer drugs, exploring novel therapeutic macromolecules and identifying the right small molecules using an integration of computational and experimental approaches is a recent tactic adopted by investigators. In the present study, we designed and created a library of 200 ligands with 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones or their thiones linked with imidazolidinones through amide linkage and explored the extent of their in vitro anticancer activity towards human topoisomerase IIalpha (TOP2α or TOP2A) using DU-145 and PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines using the SRB assay method. This was accomplished by the molecular docking and synthesis of the titled compounds using a series of organic nucleophilic addition reactions, including the Biginelli one-pot condensation reaction. The preliminary physical character evaluation was employed for the synthesized compounds, and the structural parameters were analyzed using FTIR, proton NMR, 13C NMR, and LC-MS/MS. The anti-prostate cancer activity of the prepared Biginelli analogues was evaluated against cancer cell lines and mild-to-moderate reduction in the viability of cell lines was observed with compounds 5, 6, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 19. Among them, compounds 5, 14, 15, and 16 exhibited significant potent activity against TOP2α or TOP2A. This result indicated that the derivatives of Biginelli (3,4-dihydropyrimidinones/thiones) could be promising anti-prostate cancer drug candidates.

We developed a nanostructured catalyst consisting of WO3 nanoparticles and Nb2O5 nanorods for efficient glycerol acetalization to produce a fuel additive (solketal) at room temperature. Particularly, the WO3/Nb2O5 nanocatalyst calcined at 400 °C (WO3/Nb2O5–4) contains W5+ species and optimum acid sites, which enhanced glycerol conversion (92.3%) with 95.6% of solketal selectivity at room temperature. The structure stability of the WO3/Nb2O5–4 catalyst during the reaction is showcased by hot-filtration study and XRD/XPS characterization. However, the inadequate regeneration of the Brønsted acid sites led to a gradual decrease in the recyclable activity of the WO3/Nb2O5–4 catalyst.

The primary objective of research to reveals the effective drug treatment for corona virus disease (COVID-19). The current study on alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (ACHC), the theoretical predictions were done by using Gaussian 09 W software on the basis of DFT/ TDFT/B3LYP methods with basis set of 6–311++G (d, p). The vibrational wavenumbers were obtained from the observed FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra and these vibrations were assigned on the basis of their potential energy distribution (PED) contribution. 1H and 13C NMR chemical shift of the molecule were computed by using Gauge independent atomic orbital (GIAO) method. In UV-Visible analysis the electronic transition was predicted by Time-dependent self-consistent field (TD-SCF)/DFT method. NBO analysis was done to understand the possible the intermolecular interaction, electron transition within the donor and acceptor orbitals of the molecule. The HOMO and LUMO indicates the prominent charge transfer possibilities and its energy gap shows stability of the molecule. A molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) image shows the electrophilic and nucleophilic sites of the molecule. Molecular docking analysis was carried out against Agaricus bisporus tyrosinase (2Y9X) and severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (6LZG).

Ionic liquid based magnetic nanofuids (ILMFs), an important subclass of ‘IoNanofuids’, have promising prospectus in numerous technological fields. Herein, we have investigated on the dielectric response and ac conductance behaviour of 1 wt% iron oxide-based ILMFs synthesized using pyridinium-based ILs viz., 1-Butyl-4-methylpyridinium tetrafuoroborate (A), 1-Butyl-4-methylpyridinium chloride (B), 1-Butyl-4-methylpyridinium bromide (C) and 1-Butylpyridinium bromide (D), and having variable stability. The dielectric permittivity exhibited a strong correlation with temperature and frequency, especially at low frequency ranges. Havriliak-Negami (H-N) function was plotted for all the four ILMFs which demonstrated a complex dielectric behaviour. The complex dielectric responses (in the range between 10−1–107 Hz) of these ILMFs at various frequencies and temperatures showed two relaxation processes following either Debye or non-Debye nature. The ILMF synthesized in B and D were the stablest. In B, two relaxation processes at 104 Hz and 6 × 102 Hz were observed (at 373.15 K), the temperature dependence being much stronger for the second process. Cole-Cole processes are observable in both relaxations. α parameters varied in the range 0.8 – 1.0 and 0.62 – 0.9 for first and second relaxation process respectively and β parameter equal to 1 at all temperature range for both relaxation processes. In ILMF synthesized using D, Debye relaxation with two relaxation processes were observed closer at 9.1 × 103 Hz and 1.1 × 103 Hz. All the α and β parameters were 1 or 0.99 indicating same relaxation time for all molecules. With D having higher anion-cation interaction energy, Debye process could be observed. The alternating current (AC) conductance of these ILMFs tends to increase with increase in temperature as well as frequency of applied field till 105 Hz after which it decreases.

The current research emphasized the creation of copper oxide nanoparticles (Cu2O NPs) employing aqueous and methanol fruit extracts of Myrica esculenta, which were applied as a capping and reducing agent. Advanced characterization techniques like XRD, FTIR, FESEM, TEM, Raman, and UV–Vis spectroscopy were applied to ascertain the structure and characteristics of the Cu2O NPs. The results revealed the synthesis of uniformly spherical Cu2O NPs in both aqueous and methanol extracts, with the latter showing particles embedded in a sheet-like structure. The mean crystallite sizes were determined to be 25.45 and 22.04 nm for Cu2O NPs derived from the aqueous and methanol extracts. Furthermore, the antioxidant potential of the extracts and as-prepared Cu2O NPs was assessed using a DPPH assay. At the same time, their antimicrobial activity was accessed through the disc diffusion technique (for bacteria), poisoned food method (for fungi), and minimum inhibitory concentration assay. The results revealed that Cu2O NPs derived from the methanol extract exhibited significant antioxidant potential (IC50 of 57.38 µg/mL) compared to those derived from the aqueous extract (IC50 of 71.60 µg/mL). The methanol extract-based Cu2O NPs displayed higher antimicrobial efficacy against Bacillus subtilis (15.62 µg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (31.25 µg/mL). In contrast, aqueous extract-based Cu2O NPs exhibited similar and higher activity against B. subtilis (31.25 µg/mL). Additionally, Cu2O NPs of methanol extract showed higher antifungal potential than aqueous extract-mediated NPs. These findings highlight the immense potential of these bio-inspired NPs for various biomedical applications, owing to their exceptional biological properties.

In this present work, to investigate the physicochemical properties of the molecules, extensive quantum chemical calculations have been performed on 2-cyano-5-fluoropyridine (2C5FP) and 3-cyano-2-fluoropyridine (3C2FP). Infrared and Raman spectra analysis have been carried out to study the vibrational modes of the molecule. Based on density function theory (DFT) with 6–311 ++ G (d, p) basis set, was also used to compute the same modes. As a result of intramolecular interactions, charge transfer or delocalization of charge has been explained by natural bond orbital analysis. The NMR study was also carried out experimentally and theoretically. The nucleophilic and electrophilic sites were predicted by Molecular Electrostatic Potential surface (MEP). By using the same functional and basis set and GIAO method, theoretical predictions were made. The absorption wavelengths of title molecules have been studied both theoretically and experimentally using UV–visible analysis. The Mullikan population analysis and Natural atomic charges are used to calculate the net charges of the atoms in the molecules, and the calculated net charges are compared to the experimental chemical shift values. A molecular docking study revealed that the title molecules may have antidiabetic properties when bound to protein Glycogen Phosphorylase B Complexed Glucose.

Researchers have focused their efforts on nickel and nickel oxide nanoparticles due to their particular uses in a range of domains, including photocatalysis and antibacterial activity. As a result, numerous research projects utilising green synthesis approaches based on physical, chemical, and plant extracts have recently been published. Because they are affordable, biocompatible, and simple to scale up, plant extract-based green methods have been regarded as a good substitute to other approaches to the production of nanoparticles because they completely do away with the need for additional stabilising agents. In addition to a number of vitamins, plant extracts include significant amounts of phenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, and other phytochemicals. These phytochemicals serve as reducing, capping, and stabilising agents during the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles from their corresponding precursors. Because of these unique properties of phytochemicals, nickel and nickel oxide nanoparticles have been effectively produced using green synthesis techniques using extracts of plant parts such as bark, roots, and leaves, among others. This review provides an overview of recent studies on the synthesis of nickel and nickel oxide nanoparticles from plant extracts and plant parts. The benefits of nickel nanoparticles in a range of applications, such as photocatalytic water contamination remediation and antibacterial activity, are highlighted in this paper with particular emphasis.

Silver nanoparticles are an important innovation in nanotechnology, due to their high stability and low chemical reactivity in comparison to other metals. Silver nanoparticles have received much attention in biological application because of their unique physicochemical properties. A number of methods applied to synthesize silver nanoparticles such as physical and chemical. These methods commonly synthesized nanoparticles using toxic chemicals as reducing agents. However, in the last few decades, several efforts were made to develop green synthesis methods to avoid the use of hazardous materials. In the present review we describe the green synthesis of nanoparticles using bacteria, and fungi and plants, the role of plant metabolites in the synthesis process. Several biomolecules included in biological extract, such as flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and vitamins, function as reducing and capping agents during the biosynthesis process. The prospective uses of biosynthesized AgNPs in different fields, including antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and agronomic, have attracted the attention of researchers.

Cow dung extracts are prepared using ethanol and methanol as solvents. Electronic absorption spectra of cow dung extracts have exhibited wide absorption in the UV and visible region between 300 and 730 nm. The absorption of cow dung extracts showed variations in intensity and absorption peaks at different wavelengths, which can be attributed to presence of diverse photosynthetic pigments corresponding to polarity of applied solvents. The observed pigments of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids in the cow dung extracts can be ascribed to the feeding behavior of the cow. The FTIR and UV–vis absorption results have disclosed that the sensitization of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) photoanode is mainly due to the chlorophylls present in the cow dung extract. The methyl group in the chlorophyll molecules from ideal bond with ZnO NPs that enables transfer of electrons from chlorophyll molecules to conduction band of ZnO NPs. The solar cells sensitized with cow dung extract in methanol has delivered highest energy conversion efficiency of 0.102%, which can be ascribed to presence of relatively a greater number of photosynthetic pigments.

Thin film samples of pure CeO2 and Fe-doped CeO2 were prepared via a homemade spray pyrolysis set-up with an aim to explore its suitability for use as functional materials in spintronics applications. Compressed air was used as a carrier gas to spray deposit the films on preheated glass substrate at an optimum temperature of 400 °C. Structural analysis using X-ray diffraction confirm the single-phase formation of CeO2 for pure and Fe-doped samples. Field emission electron microscope images illustrate the fairly uniform deposition of thin films with nanocrystalline nature. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis confirm the near stoichiometry of doped Ce1-xFexO2 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1) samples. Magnetic behavior of the samples were studied using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer which show a dominant diamagnetic behavior for both Fe-doped and pure CeO2 thin films. Insufficient number of oxygen vacancies produced during the deposition of thin films is expected to the cause for the absence of ferromagnetic ordering at room temperature.

The tetraiminediphenol macrocyclic complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) were synthesized by employing [2 + 2] Schiff base condensation of 2,6–diformyl–4–methylphenol and 1,2–diaminobenzene in the presence of hydrated metal(II) nitrates as templates in the molar ratio of 1:1:1 in methanol. All the synthesized complexes were found to be dark in color, stable in air and non–hygroscopic. The characterization of the complexes has been performed by the elemental analyses such as IR, UV–Visible, 1H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, magnetic susceptibility and molar conductivity measurements. X–ray diffractional studies suggest that the complexes are crystalline in nature. Energy dispersive X–ray spectroscopy (EDS) explores the complexes in terms of their chemical purity. The effects of metal ions on the surface morphology of macrocyclic complexes have been successfully analyzed by making use of a scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra was recorded within the range of 4000 -500 cm−1 and compared with the theoretically obtained spectra. The 13C and 1H NMR chemical shifts have been calculated using the GIAO technique, and the output has been compared with experimental data. The optimized molecular structure and stability analysis of the aztreonam compound have been calculated by the DFT/B3LYP/6–311++G(d,p) level of theory. The molecular electrostatic potential, chemical descriptors, and HOMO-LUMO energies were also calculated. The in silico pharmacological evaluation shows that the title molecule exhibit drug-likeness, and ADMET properties. The ADMET results also indicate that the molecule can be employed in anti-tuberculosis treatments to discover new drugs. Furthermore, molecular docking analyses have been performed to understand the most active binding sites of the compound with the target protein. The molecules are docked with the PknB protein, with free binding energy values of Aztreonam is -7.25 and Mitoxantrone is -6.79 kcal/mol.

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.