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Shakeel Ahmad Khan,1 Adnan Shakoor2 1Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong; 2Department of Control and Instrumentation Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Shakeel Ahmad Khan; Adnan Shakoor, Email shakilahmad56@gmail.com; adnan.shakoor@kfupm.edu.saAbstract: Biomaterials and biomedical devices induced life-threatening bacterial infections and other biological adverse effects such as thrombosis and fibrosis have posed a significant threat to global healthcare. Bacterial infections and adverse biological effects are often caused by the formation of microbial biofilms and the adherence of various biomacromolecules, such as platelets, proteins, fibroblasts, and immune cells, to the surfaces of biomaterials and biomedical devices. Due to the programmed interconnected networking of bacteria in microbial biofilms, they are challenging to treat and can withstand several doses of antibiotics. Additionally, antibiotics can kill bacteria but do not prevent the adsorption of biomacromolecules from physiological fluids or implanting sites, which generates a conditioning layer that promotes bacteria’s reattachment, development, and eventual biofilm formation. In these viewpoints, we highlighted the magnitude of biomaterials and biomedical device-induced infections, the role of biofilm formation, and biomacromolecule adhesion in human pathogenesis. We then discussed the solutions practiced in healthcare systems for curing biomaterials and biomedical device-induced infections and their limitations. Moreover, this review comprehensively elaborated on the recent advances in designing and fabricating biomaterials and biomedical devices with these three properties: antibacterial (bacterial killing), antibiofilm (biofilm inhibition/prevention), and antibiofouling (biofouling inhibition/prevention) against microbial species and against the adhesion of other biomacromolecules. Besides we also recommended potential directions for further investigations.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: biomaterials, biomedical devices, antibacterial, antibiofilm, antibiofouling

Robert A Scott,1,2 Timothy J S Cross,3 Christopher Clarke,4 Shahid A Khan,5 Stephen D Ryder,1 James Franklin,6,* Aloysious D Aravinthan1,2,* 1NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; 2Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; 3Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK; 4Department of Radiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK; 5Division of Digestive Diseases, Imperial College London, London, UK; 6Institute of Medical Imaging and Visualisation, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth UK*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: James Franklin, Institute of Medical Imaging and Visualisation, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth Gateway Building, St Paul’s Lane, Bournemouth, BH8 8GP, UK, Email jfranklin@bournemouth.ac.uk Aloysious D Aravinthan, Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK, Email aloysious.aravinthan@nottingham.ac.ukBackground & Aim: HCC has significantly improved outcomes when detected early. Guidelines recommend biannual surveillance with ultrasound (US) and/or AFP in at-risk individuals. This survey aimed to describe HCC surveillance adherence/practices amongst the NHS hospitals in the UK.Methods: An electronic survey was sent to 79 NHS hospitals via the British Association for the Study of the Liver distribution list. The responses were captured from July 2021 to January 2022. Centres were divided into hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) and non-HPB centres, depending on whether the hospital undertakes major liver surgeries.Results: A total of 39 (49.3%) centres responded: 15 HPB and 24 non-HPB centres from across the UK. HCC surveillance eligibility criteria were universally applied, but heterogeneous approaches occur outside these criteria. Eighty per cent of patients undergoing surveillance were estimated to have cirrhosis. Eighty-five per cent of centres do 6-monthly US and AFP requested by clinicians and liver clinical nurse specialists. Compliance was estimated at 80% but not routinely audited. In most centres, general sonographers and/or radiologists perform surveillance US scans without a standard reporting template, although structured reporting was viewed as desirable by the majority. Poor views on US are approached heterogeneously, with patients variably offered ongoing US, CT, or MRI with different protocols.Conclusion: Most responding NHS hospitals follow 6-monthly HCC surveillance guidance. Data recording is variable, with limited routine data collection regarding compliance, yield, and quality. Surveillance US is mostly performed by non-HPB specialists without standardised reporting. There is an inconsistent approach to poor views with US surveillance. Even in a universal healthcare system such as NHS, which is free at the point of care, delivery of HCC surveillance has not improved over the last decade and remains variable.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, primary surveillance, ultrasound scan, cirrhosis, liver cancer

Saiqa Bashir,1 Muhammad Siddique Awan,1 Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh,2,3 Ravi Naidu,4 Shahzad Akbar Khan,5 Nagina Rafique,1 Shaista Ali,6 Imran Hayat,1 Imtiaz Hussain,1 Muhammad Zubair Khan7 1Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Poonch, Rawalakot, Pakistan; 2Department of Chemistry, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan; 3Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan; 4Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia; 5Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Poonch, Rawalakot, Pakistan; 6Department of Chemistry, Government College University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan; 7Department of Plant Breeding and Molecular Genetics, University of Poonch, Rawalakot, PakistanCorrespondence: Saiqa Bashir, Email sar.rkt@gmail.comPurpose: Recent advances in nanotechnology have given rise to the potential utilization of nanoparticles as food, nano-medicine/biomedicines.Patient: The study aimed to investigate the effects of nano-zinc oxide (nano-zinc) on the bio-assimilation of mineral (Zn) in mice, aged 3– 6 weeks.Methods: ZnO nanoparticles were added to the basal diet as a supplement at amounts of 0.07, 0.14 and 0.21 mg/kg. The synthesized material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer, particle size, scanning electron microscope, Thermogravimetric Analysis Thermal, X-ray diffraction spectrophotometer and Zeta potential.Results: In-vitro bioavailability of synthesized group ZnO (120 nm) was 43%, whereas for standard group ZnO (50 nm) was reported as 55%. In-vivo bioavailability of zinc oxide illustrated the maximum absorption level compared with the control. In-vivo toxicity was characterized as damage done to the liver and spleen tissues with a high dose of 0.21 mg/kg, while smaller doses indicated no toxic effects.Conclusion: The study provided important insights on the toxicological effects of ZnO nanoparticles, depending on dose rate and bio-assimilation, as well as particles, under various conditions (in-vitro and in-vivo). These findings will motivate further detailed research on nano-based medicine for alleviating malnutrition conditions.Keywords: bioavailability, toxicity, nanoparticles, nanomedicine, food

Tibial non-union with deformity in abnormal bone is rarely reported in literature. We report a case of a 65 years old male with a history of achondroplasia. The patient presented after a mechanical fall with an undisplaced right midshaft tibia fracture associated with pre-existing varus and procurvatum tibial deformities, which was initially managed non- operatively. However, after nine months he developed a painful non-union. Because of the symptomatic non-union as well as the pre-existing deformities, osteotomy of the tibia and fibula was performed with the application of a Truelok- Hexapod (TL-Hex, Orthofix) frame. We were able to achieve compression at the fracture site, and the software guided TL- Hex frame enabled gradual three-dimensional correction of the deformity. At six months, bony union and simultaneous correction of the tibia deformity were achieved. At two years, the patient was able to ambulate well without pain and perform his activities of daily living. We present a case of tibial non-union with pre-existing deformity in an achondroplasia patient successfully treated with a circular frame application.

Shakeel Ahmad Khan,1 Sammia Shahid,2 Amber Ayaz,2 Jawaher Alkahtani,3 Mohamed S Elshikh,3 Tauheeda Riaz4 1Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF) and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong; 2Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, 54770, Pakistan; 3Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Chemistry, Government College Women University Sialkot, Sialkot, PakistanCorrespondence: Shakeel Ahmad Khan Email shakilahmad56@gmail.comBackground: NiO nanoparticles have attracted much attention due to their unique properties. They have been synthesized using chemical and physical techniques that often need toxic chemicals. These toxic chemicals cannot easily be removed from the nanoparticle’s surface, make them less biocompatible, and limit their biological applications. Instead, plants based green synthesis of nanoparticles uses phytomolecules as reducing and capping agents. These phytomolecules are biologically active with no or less toxic effects.Materials and Methods: Phytomolecules-coated NiO nanoparticles were synthesized employing a green route using Abutilon indicum leaf extract. For comparative study, we also have synthesized NiO nanoparticles using the co-precipitation method. Synthesized nanoparticles were successfully characterized using different spectroscopic techniques. The synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated for antibacterial activity with agar well diffusion assay against different bacteria compared to standard drug and plant extract. They are also examined for anticancer potential using MTT assay against HeLa cancer cells, and further, their antioxidant potential was determined using DPPH assay. Biocompatibility of the synthesized nanoparticles was assessed against fibroblast cells.Results: Phytomolecules-coated NiO nanoparticles were demonstrated superior antibacterial and anticancer performance against bacteria (E. coli, B. bronchiseptica, B. subtilis, and S. aureus) by presenting highest zone of inhibitions (18 ± 0.58 mm, 21 ± 0.45 mm, 22 ± 0.32 mm, and 23 ± 0.77 mm) and HeLa cancer cells by exhibiting the least cell viability percentage (51.74 ± 0.35%) compared to plant extract and chemically synthesized NiO nanoparticles but were comparable to standard antibiotic and anticancer drugs, respectively. Phytomolecules-coated NiO nanoparticles were also demonstrated excellent antioxidant activity (79.87 ± 0.43% DPPH inhibition) and biocompatibility (> 90% cell viability) with fibroblast cells.Conclusion: Nanoparticle synthesis using the Abutilon indicum leaf extract is an efficient and economical method, produces biocompatible and more biologically active nanoparticles, which can be an excellent candidate for therapeutic applications.Keywords: NiO nanoparticles, green synthesis, A. indicum, biological, anticancer, antibacterial

Jasleen Kaur,1 Asif Irshad Khan,2 Yoosef B Abushark,2 Md Mottahir Alam,3 Suhel Ahmad Khan,4 Alka Agrawal,1 Rajeev Kumar,1 Raees Ahmad Khan1 1Department of Information Technology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, UP, India; 2Computer Science Department, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Computer Science, Indira Gandhi National TribalUniversity, Amarkantak, MP, IndiaCorrespondence: Rajeev Kumar Email rs0414@gmail.comIntroduction: The imperative need for ensuring optimal security of healthcare web applications cannot be overstated. Security practitioners are consistently working at improvising on techniques to maximise security along with the longevity of healthcare web applications. In this league, it has been observed that assessment of security risks through soft computing techniques during the development of web application can enhance the security of healthcare web applications to a great extent.Methods: This study proposes the identification of security risks and their assessment during the development of the web application through adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). In this article, firstly, the security risk factors involved during healthcare web application development have been identified. Thereafter, these security risks have been evaluated by using the ANFIS technique. This research also proposes a fuzzy regression model.Results: The results have been compared with those of ANFIS, and the ANFIS model is found to be more acceptable for the estimation of security risks during the healthcare web application development.Conclusion: The proposed approach can be applied by the healthcare web application developers and experts to avoid the security risk factors during healthcare web application development for enhancing the healthcare data security.Keywords: healthcare web application, security risk assessment, fuzzy systems, neural network, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system

Ozbil E Dumenci, Abellona MR U, Shahid A Khan, Elaine Holmes, Simon D Taylor-Robinson Imperial College London, London, UKCorrespondence: Abellona MR UImperial College London, 660 Sir Alexander Fleming Building, London SW7 2AZ, UKTel +44 7428 274231Email mei.u11@imperial.ac.ukPurpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth commonest cause of cancer-related mortality; it is associated with various genetic alterations, some involved in metabolic reprogramming. This study aimed to explore the potential metabolic impact of Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthase I (CPS1) and carbamoyl phosphate synthetase/aspartate transcarbamoylase/dihydroorotase (CAD) dysregulation through the reconstruction of a network that integrates information from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database, Human Metabolome Database (HMDB) and Human Protein Atlas (HPA).Methods and results: Existing literature was used to determine the roles of CPS1 and CAD in HCC. CPS1 downregulation is thought to play a role in hepatocarcinogenesis through an increased glutamine availability for de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis, which CAD catalyzes the first three steps for. KEGG, HMDB and HPA were used to reconstruct a network of relevant pathways, demonstrating the relationships between genes and metabolites using the MetaboSignal package in R. The network was filtered to exclude any duplicates, and those greater than three steps away from CPS1 or CAD. Consequently, a network of 18 metabolites, 28 metabolic genes and 1 signaling gene was obtained, which indicated expression profiles and prognostic information of each gene in the network.Conclusion: Information from different databases was collated to form an informative network that integrated different “-omics” approaches, demonstrating the relationships between genetic and metabolic components of urea cycle and the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway. This study paves the way for further research by acting as a template to investigate the relationships between genes and metabolites, explore their potential roles in various diseases and aid the development of new screening and treatment methods through network reconstruction.Keywords: metabonomics, reprogramming, bioinformatics, liquid biopsy, hepatocytes

Nargis Aman, Khalid Rauf, Shujaat Ali Khan, Ahmed Tokhi, Naeem-Ur Rehman, Muhammad Arfat YameenDepartment of Pharmacy COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, KPK, PakistanPurpose: To investigate the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on chloroquine (CQ)-induced itching, and overall behavior of mice after oral administration of ZnO NPs of various sizes and doses.Background: With the wide-spread use of ZnO NPs in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, concerns about their safety and toxicity are also increasing. Multiple aspects of ZnO NPs regarding cytotoxicity and tolerability are under investigation globally. Still, a clear conclusion about their safety has not been reached. Chloroquine phosphate is an antimalarial with known side effects of itching in humans and animals. In this study, CQ was used to induce itching in mice, and the effects of ZnO NPs on scratching and other neurological behavior of mice were observed.Methods: Female BALB/c mice were divided into eleven groups of six mice each. ZnO NPs of various sizes and doses were administered orally 1 hour before CQ (32 mg/kg body weight) was administered subcutaneously. The effect of ZnO NPs on CQ-induced pruritus was observed for the next 30 minutes. Simultaneously, overall behavioral changes (socialization and locomotion) were also recorded using a video camera.Results: A significant reduction (P˂0.001) in scratching bouts was observed at all three doses of ZnO NPs (particle sizes 100, 30 nm, and green synthesized 30 nm). Locomotion was reduced significantly (P˂0.001) in ZnO NPs-treated groups in comparison to normal saline and CQ group, additionally, a significant increase in socialization (P˂0.05) was observed in ZnO NP-treated groups as compared to CQ group.Conclusion: ZnO NPs, instead of aggravating the dermatological condition, ameliorated the pruritus. All sizes of ZnO NPs used significantly improved socialization among mice and reduced locomotion activity.Keywords: ZnO NPs, chloroquine-induced pruritus, CQ, green synthesized ZnO NPs, mice

Human hereditary leukonychia is a rare nail disorder characterized by nail plates whitening on all finger and toe nails. Inheritance pattern is both autosomal dominant and recessive. To date, the only gene, phospholipase C, δ1 (PLCD1), on chromosome 3p22.2 has been reported to be involved in hereditary leukonychia. In the present study, a family of Pakhtun ethnicity, carrying leukonychia phenotype was investigated. The family inherited the phenotype in an autosomal dominant fashion. Affected individuals exhibited characteristic features of hereditary leukonychia with involvement of nails on both the hands and feet. Sequence analysis of DNA detected a p.Cys209Arg mutation, reported for the first time in a Pakistani Pashtun family.

Seraj Ahmed Khan,1 Sudha Agrawal,2 Nirmal Baral,1 Madhab Lamsal1 1Department of Biochemistry, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal; 2Department of Dermatology and Venereology, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal Background: Psoriasis is a dermatological disorder with a multifactorial origin and is associated with many biochemical and immunological changes. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the association of serum ADA activity, uric acid (UA), and high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) with psoriasis and the role of ADA in disease severity. Materials and methods: In this comparative cross-sectional study, 50 clinically and histopathologically diagnosed psoriasis patients and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Blood samples were taken and analysis of the biochemical parameters was performed according to Giuisti and Galanti method, uricase and ELISA technique for ADA activity, UA, and hs-CRP, respectively. The severity of the disease was scored according to Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Statistical analysis of differences within and between the study groups was carried out using the Student’s t-test, one-way post hoc ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation. Linear regression was used to establish the independent association of ADA with disease severity. Results: The serum ADA activity, UA, and hs-CRP levels of the psoriatic patients were found to be significantly higher (P

Md Jahangir Alam,1 Ozair Alam,1 Suroor Ahmad Khan,1 Mohd Javed Naim,1 Mohammad Islamuddin,2 Girdhar Singh Deora3 1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, 2Parasite Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 3Institute of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India Abstract: This article reports on the design, synthesis, and pharmacological activity of a new series of hybrid pyrazole analogues: 5a–5u. Among the series 5a–5u, the compounds 5u and 5s exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity of 80.63% and 78.09% and inhibition of 80.87% and 76.56% compared with the standard drug ibuprofen, which showed 81.32% and 79.23% inhibition after 3 and 4 hours, respectively. On the basis of in vivo studies, 12 compounds were selected for assessment of their in vitro inhibitory action against COX1/2 and TNFα. The compounds 5u and 5s showed high COX2-inhibitory activity, with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of 1.79 and 2.51 µM and selectivity index values of 72.73 and 65.75, respectively, comparable to celecoxib (selectivity index =78.06). These selected compounds were also tested for TNFα, cytotoxicity, and ulcerogenicity. Docking studies were also carried out to determine possible interactions of the potent compounds (5u and 5s), which also showed high docking scores of -12.907 and -12.24 compared to celecoxib, with a -9.924 docking score. These selective COX2 inhibitors were docked into the active site of COX2, and showed the same orientation and binding mode to that of celecoxib (selective COX2 inhibitor). Docking studies also showed that the SO2NH2 of 5u and 5s is inserted deep inside the selective pocket of the COX2-active site and formed a hydrogen-bond interaction with His90, Arg513, Phe518, Ser353, Gln192, and Ile517, which was further validated by superimposed docked pose with celecoxib. Keywords: anti-inflammatory activity, analgesic activity, selective COX2 inhibition, TNFα inhibition, molecular docking studies, pyrazole

Hypokalemia with rhabdomyolysis caused by diarrhoea is uncommon in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients. We report the case of a patient with HIV1 infection who presented with chronic diarrhoea that led to hypokalemia induced rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury (AKI). A 32-year-old man, known to be HIV-1 seropositive who was on treatment with tenofovir, lamivudine, lopinavirand ritonavir, presented to the emergency department with 6 months history of diarrhoea and sudden onset of weakness of all 4 limbs of two days duration. On examination limb power was grade 3/5 with hypotonia and diminished reflexes. Laboratory investigations showed severe hypokalemia, low urinary potassium, normal anion-gap metabolic acidosis, markedly increased creatine kinase and mildly increased serum creatinine. He was diagnosed as having diarrhoea induced hypokalemic myopathy leading to rhabdomyolysis and AKI. With potassium supplements, antiprotozoal treatment adequate hydration he improved significantly and is on regular follow-up. Patients presenting with hypokalemia should be closely monitored for rhabdomyolysis, because outcome is good with early treatment.

From the last few years, the inclusion of microbial phytase in poultry diets has increased significantly, mainly in response to heightened concerns over phosphorus pollution of the environment and as cheaper means to make phosphorus available to birds from phytate. Phytate is the major form of phosphorus, abundantly found in cereal grains, beans and oilseed meals used in poultry diet but the monogastric animals like poultry birds are unable to utilize this source of phosphorus due to lack of endogenous phytase enzyme. To meet the phosphorus requirements of poultry birds, inorganic phosphates are added to the poultry rations, which lead to the problem of environmental pollution as a large amount of phosphorus is excreted in the manure. Microbial phytase is used as an alternative of this, which has beneficial effects on the growth performance, feed efficiency, protein/amino acid digestibility, energy utilization, mineral retention, and bone growth of broilers due to the direct hydrolytic effects on phytate.

Oukseub Lee1, David Ivancic1, Robert T Chatterton Jr2, Alfred W Rademaker3, Seema A Khan11Department of Surgery, 2Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, 3Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USAPurpose: Oral tamoxifen, a triphenylethylene (TPE), is useful for breast cancer prevention, but its adverse effects limit acceptance by women. Tamoxifen efficacy is related to its major metabolites 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) and N-desmethyl-4-hydroxytamoxifen (endoxifen [ENX]). Transdermal delivery of these to the breast may avert the toxicity of oral tamoxifen while maintaining efficacy. We evaluated the relative efficiency of skin permeation of 4-OHT and ENX in vitro, and tested oleic acid (OA) as a permeation-enhancer.Methods: 4-OHT, ENX, and estradiol (E2) (0.2 mg/mL of 0.5 µCi 3H/mg) were dissolved in 60% ethanol-phosphate buffer, ±OA (0.1%–5%). Permeation through EpiDermTM (Matek Corp, Ashland, MA) and split-thickness human skin was calculated based on the amount of the agents recovered from the receiver fluid and skin using liquid scintillation counting over 24 hours.Results: In the EpiDerm model, the absorption of 4-OHT and ENX was 10%–11%; total penetration (TP) was 26%–29% at 24 hours and was decreased by OA. In normal human skin, the absorption of 4-OHT and ENX was 0.3%; TP was 2%–4% at 24 hours. The addition of 1% OA improved the permeation of ENX significantly more than that of 4-OHT (P < 0.004); further titration of OA at 0.25%–0.5% further improved the permeation of ENX to a level similar to that of estradiol.Conclusion: The addition of OA to ENX results in a favorable rapid delivery equivalent to that of estradiol, a widely used transdermal hormone. The transdermal delivery of ENX to the breast should be further developed in preclinical and clinical studies.Keywords: endoxifen, breast cancer prevention, human skin, transdermal, oleic acid

Hybrid multiferroics such as BiFeO$_3$ (BFO) and La$_{0.7}$Sr$_{0.3}$MnO$_3$(LSMO) heterostructures are highly interesting functional systems due to theircomplex electronic and magnetic properties. One of the key parametersinfluencing the emergent properties is the quality of interfaces, where varyinginterdiffusion lengths can give rise to different chemistry and distinctiveelectronic states. Here we report high-resolution depth resolved chemical andelectronic investigation of BFO/LSMO superlattice using standing-wave hardX-ray photoemission spectroscopy in the first-order Bragg as well asnear-total-reflection geometry. Our results show that the interfaces of BFO ontop of LSMO are atomically abrupt, while the LSMO on top of BFO interfaces showan interdiffusion length of around 1.2 unit cells. The two interfaces alsoexhibit different chemical gradients, with the BFO/LSMO interface beingSr-terminated by a spectroscopically distinctive high binding energy componentin Sr 2p core-level spectra, which is spatially contained within 1 unit cellfrom the interface. From the electronic point of view, unique valence bandfeatures were observed for bulk-BFO, bulk-LSMO and their interfaces. Our X-rayoptical analysis revealed a unique electronic signature at the BFO/LSMOinterface, which we attribute to the coupling between those respective layers.Valence band decomposition based on the Bragg-reflection standing-wavemeasurement also revealed the band alignment between BFO and LSMO layers. Ourwork demonstrates that standing-wave hard x-ray photoemission is a reliablenon-destructive technique for probing depth-resolved electronic structure ofburied layers and interfaces with sub-unit-cell resolution. Equivalentinvestigations can be successfully applied to a broad class of material such asperovskite complex oxides with emergent interfacial phenomena.

Greenland's main outlet glaciers have more than doubled their contribution to global sea level rise over the last decade. Recent work has shown that Greenland's mass loss is still increasing. Here we show that the ice loss, which has been well-documented over southern portions of Greenland, is now spreading up along the northwest coast, with this acceleration likely starting in late 2005. We support this with two lines of evidence. One is based on measurements from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite gravity mission, launched in March 2002. The other comes from continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements from three long-term sites on bedrock adjacent to the ice sheet. The GRACE results provide a direct measure of mass loss averaged over scales of a few hundred km. The GPS data are used to monitor crustal uplift caused by ice mass loss close to the sites. The GRACE results can be used to predict crustal uplift, which can be compared with the GPS data. In addition to showing that the northwest ice sheet margin is now losing mass, the uplift results from both the GPS measurements and the GRACE predictions show rapid acceleration in southeast Greenland in late 2003, followed by a moderate deceleration in 2006. Because that latter deceleration is weak, southeast Greenland still appears to be losing ice mass at a much higher rate than it was prior to fall 2003. In a more general sense, the analysis described here demonstrates that GPS uplift measurements can be used in combination with GRACE mass estimates to provide a better understanding of ongoing Greenland mass loss; an analysis approach that will become increasingly useful as long time spans of data accumulate from the 51 permanent GPS stations recently deployed around the edge of the ice sheet as part of the Greenland GPS Network (GNET). Copyright © 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.

It is now widely accepted that various subsets of hybrid fiber composites reinforced with combined natural and synthetic fibers can significantly expand the applicability of composite-based materials in design and technology practice. The already existing unnatural circumstances on the planet put natural fibers far ahead of traditions in the field of materials thanks to their biodegradability characteristics, availability and over-term endurance and corrosion resistance. At the same time, composites are rapidly taking their place in many industries and sectors of the economy as metals in as much as it is economically and energetically justified. This study evaluates the mechanical properties of hybrid composites reinforced with glass, hemp, and sisal fibers. Using a hand lay-up method with epoxy resin, composite laminates were fabricated and tested for tensile, flexural, impact strengths and hardness test in accordance with ASTM standards. The experimental results revealed that glass-sisal fiber composites achieved the highest tensile strength of 69.1 MPa, while glass-hemp-sisal fiber composites exhibited superior flexural strength of 15.22 MPa and impact strength of 137.45 kJ/m2 while best hardness value was 24.73 HV for glass-sisal fibre composite. These findings underscore the potential of glass-sisal-hemp fiber-reinforced epoxy composites as viable alternatives to traditional synthetic fiber-reinforced materials in automotive industry where there are no structural loadings i.e. automobile interiors; offering enhanced mechanical performance and sustainability.

Self-fertile cultivars of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) produce heavy crop load that is often associated with small and poor-quality fruits. Therefore, a crop load-management strategy is required to improve the quality of the fruit. In this study, the effect of blossom thinners on fruit set, yield and quality of the fruits was evaluated. Three types of blossom thinners were used at three different concentrations viz., ammonium thiosulphate (ATS) (1, 1.5 and 2%), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (20, 40 and 60 ppm) and corn oil emulsion (1, 2 and 3%). These were sprayed at 80% of the bloom stage. The vegetative, flowering, fruit set and yield parameters were observed and recorded. Fruit quality was evaluated by measuring the physical and chemical characteristics of the fruits at the harvest stage. Negative correlation was found between fruit set and quality of fruit. The reduction in the crop load was associated with enhanced vegetative growth, including higher leaf:fruit ratio, higher supply and availability of photosynthates to the remaining fruitlets and reduced fruit firmness and titratable acidity. Fruit size, weight, volume, hue value, chroma value, soluble solid content (SSC), total sugars, SSC/acid ratio, anthocyanin and ascorbic acid content were enhanced as a result of thinning. The foliar spray of ATS at 2% and NAA at 60 ppm, at 80% bloom proved to be the most effective in reducing crop load and enhancing the fruit quality.

The combined heat and mass transfer phenomenon is a significant aspect of engineering and industrial processes. This phenomenon finds applications in various areas such as air conditioning, cooling and heating control of electronic devices, reactors, chemical systems, and emission processes. This research model focuses on the analysis of mixed convection flow of a viscous fluid with heat and mass transfer on an inclined surface with porous medium characteristics. The study also considers external heat transfer effects, radiation, Soret influence, and chemical reactions. A perturbation solution is derived in closed form, and the impact of various parameters on the thermal behavior is investigated. A comparative analysis of the heating and cooling regimes in plate flow is conducted, revealing a reduction in velocity in the heated plate regime with changes in the permeability parameter and an increase in concentration phase due to the Soret number.

The aim of this study is to investigate the heat and mass transfer characteristics of Burgers nanofluid in the presence of thermo-diffusion effects. The analysis considers higher-order slip effects to study the transport phenomena. Additionally, the study examines the impact of thermal radiation and chemical reactions on the flow. Variable thermal conductivity assumptions are made for heat transfer analysis. The Cattaneo–Christov model, an extension of Fourier heat and mass theories, is employed for the analysis. Heat transfer evaluation is conducted using convective thermal constraints, and numerical computations are carried out using the Runge–Kutta method. The study visually represents the impact of flow parameters through graphical analysis. It is suggested that heat transfer can be significantly improved through the interaction of slip effects, and the concentration phenomenon is enhanced by the Soret number.

The necessity for a shift to alternative forms of energy is highlighted by both approaching consequences of climate change and limited availability of fossil fuels. While a large portion of energy required can be generated by solar and wind, a diverse, sustainable energy generation mix is still necessary to meet our energy needs. By capturing otherwise lost heat energy and turning it into valuable electrical energy, thermoelectric can play a significant part in this. Using the Seebeck effect, thermoelectric generators (TEG) have established their capability to transform thermal energy into electrical energy directly. Furthermore, because they do not include chemical compounds, they are silent in operation and can be built on various substrates, including silicon, polymers, and ceramics. Moreover, thermoelectric generators have a long operational lifetime, are position independent, and may be integrated into bulky, flexible devices. However, the low conversion efficiency of TEG has confined their broad application, hampering them to an academic subject. Until now, recent developments in thermoelectric generators and devices are presuming the technology to catch its place among state-of-the-art energy conversion systems. This review presents the commonly used methods for producing thermoelectric modules (TEMs) and the materials currently studied for TEMs in bulk and printed thermoelectric devices.