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The Ki-67 labeling index is essential for predicting the prognosis of breast cancer and for diagnosing neuroendocrine and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. However, current manual counting and digital image analysis (DIA)-based methods are limited in terms of accurate estimation. This study aimed to assess and compare the capabilities of different DIA systems for Ki-67 counting using the conventional manual counting method. A total of 239 tissue microarray cores from patients with stomach cancer were immunohistochemically stained for Ki-67 and digitally scanned. For the analysis, we employed three different annotation methods: whole TMA core, box selection of the epithelium, and hand-free selection of the epithelium. We used DIA system of 3DHistech, Roche, aetherAI, and manual counting by the pathologists. The annotation methods showed different Ki-67 positivity but were lower than the pathologist manual counting. The results demonstrate that the Roche system is the preferred method for analyzing the entire TMA, whereas aetherAI outperforms the box selection method. Furthermore, 3DHistech is the most accurate method for hands-free selection of the epithelium. The manual counting results showed good agreement among pathologists, with an average intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.93. These results emphasize the importance of carefully selecting annotation methods to determine Ki-67 positivity. To determine the most suitable method for individual laboratories, multiple approaches should be assessed before implementing a DIA system in routine practice.

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing, affecting more than 10 % of the global population. In addition, subclinical inflammation associated with COVID-19 infection leads to a progressive decline in kidney function, resulting in chronic kidney disease. Early intervention in candidates with early-stage CKD may delay, or avert, progression to end-stage complications. It is widely accepted that serum Cystatin C is a reliable and early indicator of CKD. Urinary Cystatin C tends to increase with the progression of kidney malfunctioning. Thus, early detection can lower the morbidity and mortality associated with CKD. This study includes the design of a proteotronic platform for the rapid detection of CKD. Here, we have developed a biosensor that is highly specific to Cystatin C and shows a negligible response to other urinary biomarkers. The sensitivity of the biosensor was 50889.6 µA cm−2 mg−1 and the limit of detection for Cystatin C in the sample was calculated as 26 ng mL−1. The stability of the biosensor was studied by measuring the change inthe differential pulse voltammetric current at every month of storage at 4 °C. The biosensor was established to be stable for 12 months, with approximately 10 % loss in the preliminary peak current (Ip) value with storage at 4 °C. Thus, the fabricated proteotronic biosensor exhibited an analytical yet simple approach for point of care diagnostics (POCD) of CKD. The developed POCD is economical and proficient, and will enable CKD management in non-hospitalized patients.

In this study, zein-pectin nanoparticles loaded with Wampee [Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels] (WEO) were developed. The particle size of the nanoparticles is 515.9 nm, polydispersity index is 0.4 and zeta potential is −39.3 mV. Subsequently, the ZWP was incorporated into sodium alginate (SA)-based film (ZWP-S). The films were then analyzed to determine their physical properties and thermal stability, and also to examine their microstructure and intermolecular forces using SEM, FTIR, and XRD techniques. Additionally, the films were evaluated for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, as well as their ability to sustain the release of WEO. Overall, the ZWP-S film conferred excellent functional properties, including UV barrier performance, mechanical properties (21 % increase in tensile strength), water sensitivity, stability, more compact structure, high antioxidant activity and long-lasting antimicrobial activity, surpassing those of the control film. Consequently, it was applied as a novel coating for preserving strawberries, rotting rate of strawberries was reduced by 43 % at 6d, yielding promising results in prolonging the freshness of the fruit.

In this study, we employed supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) treatment under varying conditions: low-pressure treatment at 30 MPa and high temperature at 80°C (LPHT group) and high-pressure treatment at 60 MPa and low temperature at 50°C (HPLT group) for nanocellulose isolation. The scCO2 treatment resulted in smaller particle sizes and enhanced crystallinity. Notably, HPLT exhibited superior efficiency compared to LPHT treatment. Utilizing temperatures and pressures above the critical point effectively penetrated natural fibers, reducing nanocellulose particle sizes. Moreover, high-pressure and low-temperature nanocellulose demonstrated the highest crystallinity and negative zeta potential values (78.2% and –32.4±4.01 mV), surpassing those of the low-pressure and high-temperature group (77.9% and 26.0±2.34 mV) and control (77.3% and 25.9±3.13 mV). The concentration of nanocellulose significantly impacted the porosity, pore size, and water absorption of the bioaerogel scaffolds, indicating the potential for sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches in material fabrication for diverse applications.

Objectives: The objectives of the current study was to study the presence of hazardous chemical elements (Ba138, Cd111, Cr52, Pb208, As75, Co59, Cu63, Mn55, Ni60, Se82, Sr88, Zn66 and Hg202) in low-cost children's toys, and the effect of color types on chemical element concentrations. Methods: Children's toy samples were analyzed using microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) method. Samples were prepared into small pieces, and 500 mg of homogenized sample was used for digestion by means of digesting regents HNO3 (65 %, 5 mL) and H2O2 (35 %, 1 mL). During the digestion process, the pressure was held constant at 90 bar and the temperature, hold time, and power were varied 150–170-40° C, 10–30-5 min, 70–90-0 %, respectively. The main operating conditions of ICP/MS were: spray chamber temperature (−20 °C), RF Power (1450 W), nebulizer gas flow (0.9 L/min), auxiliary gas flow (0.8 L/min) and plasma gas flow (14.85 L/min). Samples and blanks were analyzed for 30 s and system was operated in standard mode. Results: The excellent method performance was achieved in terms of limit of detection (LOD, 0.001–14.89 µg/L); limit of quantification (LOQ, 0.003–45.12 µg/L); correlation coefficient (R2, 0.975–0.999) with relative standard deviation values (RSD, 0.70–4.98 %). Chemical elements were found in all the toys (0.01–742.72 ng/g) except sample S2 where only Hg202 was found (0.01 ng/g). Outcomes revealed that the Hg202 was present at a very low level (0.01 ng/g) while Zn66 was present at very high level (742.72 ng/g). Furthermore, the toys contamination was also found to be color-specific, with significant amount of chemical elements was found in black type car sample (S5, 946.98 ng/g) whereas other color type samples constitute lower amounts (0.001–210.53 ng/g). Low-cost toys designed for children's use are found to contain chemical elements that should be addressed in the course of action. As a result of exposure to high amounts of chemical elements in toys, children have a high chance of developing cancer.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a fibroinflammatory condition characterized by chronic activation of the immune system and a tendency to form tumorous lesions. IgG4-RD is frequently characterized by the presence of tumor-like masses affecting multiple organs and is easily mistaken for a malignant neoplasm. However, IgG4-RD affecting the appendix is extremely rare, with only seven cases reported previously. We report the case of a woman in her early 60s who presented with insidious abdominal pain and radiological findings mimicking appendiceal neoplasms. After diagnosing appendiceal neoplasms, surgery was performed. The patient had a serum IgG4 concentration of

The demand for crayfish surimi products has grown recently due to its high protein content. This study examined the effects of varying κ-carrageenan (CAR) and crayfish surimi (CSM) concentrations on the gelling properties of CAR-CSM composite gel and its intrinsic formation process. Our findings demonstrated that with the increasing concentration of carrageenan, the quality of CAR-CSM exhibited rising trend followed by subsequently fall. Based on the textural qualities, the highest quality CAR-CSM was achieved at 0.3% carrageenan addition. With the exception of chewiness, and the cooking loss of the gel system was 1.62%, whiteness was 82.35%, and the percentage of β-sheets increased to 57.18%. Further increase in CAR (0.4–0.5%) addition resulted in internal build-up of LCAR-CSM, conversion of intermolecular forces into disulfide bonds and gel breakage. This study exudes timely recommendations for extending the CAR application for the continuous development of crayfish surimi and its derivatives and its overall economic worth.

Recent studies have witnessed that chemical modification can improve the physicochemical and functional properties of plants' polysaccharides. Herein, we modified the natural Lycium barbarum seed dreg polysaccharides (LBSDPs) by sulfation (S-LBSDPs), phosphorylation (P-LBSDPs), and carboxymethylation (C-LBSDPs), and evaluated the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of their derivatives. Natural polysaccharides and their derivatives exhibited typical polysaccharide absorption peaks and characteristic group absorption peaks in FT-IR spectra along with maximum UV absorption. After modification, the total sugar and protein contents of the derivatives were decreased, whereas the uronic acid content was increased. Among the three derivatives, sulfated polysaccharides displayed excellent thermal stability. S-LBSDP and P-LBSDP showed the highest ABTS radical scavenging and reducing power while S-LBSDPs and C-LBSDPs showed better DPPH radical scavenging effect, and P-LBSDPs showed considerable Fe2+ chelating ability. Our data indicate that chemical modifications can impart a positive effect on the antioxidant potential of plant-derived polysaccharides.

Lycium barbarum seed dregs (LBSDs) were used for carboxymethyl modification, resulting in three degree of substitution samples (DS). Based on the substitution degree, samples were designated as low degree of substitution insoluble dietary fiber (L-IDF), medium degree of substitution insoluble dietary fiber (M-IDF) and high degree of substitution insoluble dietary fiber (H-IDF). Physicochemical and functional properties of IDFs were examined in relation to carboxymethylation degree. Infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the carboxymethyl group. According to the results, IDF, L-IDF, M-IDF, and H-IDF acquired higher enthalpy changes, and their thermal stability improved significantly. A higher DS resulted in an increase in hydration properties such as water retention capacity and water swelling capacity, as well as functional properties such as glucose adsorption capacity, nitrite ion adsorption capacity, and cholesterol adsorption capacity. As a result, carboxymethylation could effectively enhance the biological properties of L. barbarum seed dreg insoluble dietary fiber (LBSDIDF).

ABSTRACTSesame belongs to the family Pedaliaceae and scientifically named as Sesamum indicum L. It has been considered as one of the most ancient oil crop. To explore the nutraceutical and therapeutic potential of sesame seeds, the present study was planned to develop protein-enriched sesame bars with the addition of barley flour at the rate of 10%, 20%, and 30% among treatments T1, T2, and T3, respectively. Sesame barley-supplemental protein (SBSP) bars were analyzed for compositional, phytochemical, and sensory attributes including color, texture, taste, holding ability, and overall acceptability. The proximate analysis of all treatments showed varied range of results moisture (4.68 ± 0.45%), ash (3.66 ± 0.09%), crude fat (11.48 ± 0.12%), crude protein (42.37 ± 0.66), crude fiber (4.63 ± 0.23%), and nitrogen-free extract (26.29 ± 0.26%), respectively. Results of mineral analysis of all treatments were recorded as calcium (51.88–86.92 mg), iron (3.48–8.48 mg), potassium (359.35–639.20 mg), magnesium (28.23–47.54 mg), and phosphorus (151.03–378.81 mg). The results of total phenolic content ranged from 37.58 to 99.43 mg GAE/100 g, while the results for the total flavonoid content fall in range from 110.85 to 196.50 mg CE/100 g. The DPPH results illustrated that the highest content of DPPH was present in T2 (8.81 ± 0.13), while the lowest DPPH value was noticed in T0 (5.62 ± 0.08). On the basis of sensory evaluation, the T3 SBSP bar was preferred containing 25% barley flour and 75% sesame flour for its attractive color, texture, and overall acceptability.

Berberis aristata, commonly known as Indian barberry, has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties. Despite its recognized pharmacological benefits, its potential application in the food industry remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the proximate analysis and techno-functional properties of Berberis aristata root powder to evaluate its feasibility as a functional food ingredient. The root powder of Berberis aristata was subjected to proximate analysis to determine its moisture, ash, protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrate content. Techno-functional properties, including water and oil absorption capacity, emulsifying and foaming properties, and bulk density, were evaluated using standardized analytical techniques. The proximate analysis revealed a high fiber content and a significant number of bioactive compounds. The root powder exhibited favorable water and oil absorption capacities, making it suitable for use as a thickening and stabilizing agent. Emulsifying and foaming properties were comparable to conventional food additives, indicating their potential in various food formulations. The findings suggest that Berberis aristata root powder possesses desirable techno-functional properties that could be leveraged in the food industry. Its high fiber content and bioactive compounds offer additional health benefits, making it a promising candidate for functional food applications. Further research on its incorporation into different food matrices and its sensory attributes is recommended to fully establish its utility.

Nitrogen-doped biochar performs much better in dye adsorption due to its rich functional groups. Soybean cake, a by-product of soybean oil production, comprises rich contents of cellulose, lignin, and protein. Therein, simple direct carbonization was utilized to prepare self-nitrogen-doped biochar (SCB). The results showed that the N content of SCB was 6.81 wt%, and its specific surface area was 18.8 m2/g. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic results confirmed that the surface of SCB was rich in pyridine-N, pyrrole-N, graphite-N, and oxidized-N functional groups. The adsorption capacity of SCB for Rhodamine B was 17.2 mg/g, which is higher compared with other unactivated biochars. The results of thermodynamic parameters indicate that Rhodamine B adsorption on SCB is an endothermic, entropy-increasing, and spontaneous process.

Abstract This study explores the fabrication of nanofibers using different types of gelatins, including bovine, porcine, and fish gelatins. The gelatins exhibited distinct molecular weights and apparent viscosity values, leading to different entanglement behavior and nanofiber production. The electrospinning technique produced nanofibers with diameters from 47 to 274 nm. The electrospinning process induced conformational changes, reducing the overall crystallinity of the gelatin samples. However, porcine gelatin nanofibers exhibited enhanced molecular ordering. These findings highlight the potential of different gelatin types to produce nanofibers with distinct physicochemical properties. Overall, this study sheds light on the relationship between gelatin properties, electrospinning process conditions, and the resulting nanofiber characteristics, providing insights for tailored applications in various fields.

ABSTRACTStarch nanoparticles resist digestion in the upper intestine but not in the colon. They are proven to exert prebiotic effects on the human body. Starch-based nanoparticles have generated a great interest in the food and agriculture sector due to their biocompatibility, wide array of natural sources and ease of modification. In the current study, two starch sources (rice and water chestnut) were used to synthesize nanoparticles for the encapsulation of probiotic bacteria. Obtained nanoparticles were characterized for their morphological, molecular, and structural attributes using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and zeta sizer. Furthermore, free and nano-encapsulated probiotics were subject to simulated gastrointestinal digestion conditions. The average size of rice and water chestnut starch-based nano-capsules ranged from 309 to 427 nm. The encapsulation efficiency was recorded for rice and water chestnut starch as 89% and 95%, respectively. SEM micrographs exhibited entrapment of probiotics in wall materials. The surface of the capsules showed tiny, smooth surface polygonal granules. XRD images showed loss of crystallinity structure following encapsulation. Higher probiotic viability was recorded under simulated gastrointestinal conditions for nano-encapsulated probiotics compared to free probiotics. Conclusively, water chestnut and rice-based starch nanoparticles showed overall the best results regarding the viability of probiotics under stressed conditions.

ABSTRACTSupplemented apricot probiotic drink (SAPD) was prepared with the addition of 2% lactobacillus rhamnosus and different percentages (2, 4, 8, 12%) of sea buckthorn powder, a total of five treatments were prepared To, T1, T2, T3, and T4 and stored at 4°C. The analysis of probiotic count was performed using total plate count and for the examination of antioxidant activity DPPH was done and total phenolic content was also conducted. Physiochemical, microbial (TPC), antioxidant (TPC, DPPH), and sensory evaluation of supplemented apricot probiotic drink were done at different storage periods (1, 14, and 28 days) and obtained data were subjected to the statistical design. There was a considerable change in total phenolic content (TPC) throughout storage in all treatments, but supplementation of sea buckthorn has increased the TPC and antioxidant activity of SAPD. The probiotic count of T2 showed the highest probiotics among all treatments with 6.70 log CFU/mL on the 1st day, 6.6 log CFU/mL on the 14th day, and 6.5 log CFU/mL on the 28th day. It was having 4% sea buckthorn followed by T1 having 6.56 log CFU/mL and T0 having 6.54 log CUF/mL of grand mean with little change during the storage period of 28 days. T3 and T4 showed decreased number of probiotic counts with an increase in the percentage of sea buckthorn. This research concluded that sea buckthorn can be supplemented in fruit drinks to provide probiotic and antioxidant benefits, but its increased ratio can reduce the overall acceptability of the drink.

Sugar is an excellent raw material for activated carbon preparation because of its wide availability, sustainability, and low mineral content. Herein, we developed an easy method for preparing sucrose-derived activated carbon (SAC) with desirable hierarchically porous structures by combining the foaming of molten sucrose, dual-templating (K2C2O4·H2O and CaCO3), and sequential etching by dual-templating activators at elevated temperatures. As an adsorbent, SAC–800 has a high specific surface (1594 m2/g), with rich both micro- and mesopores (microsurface vs external surface area is 812 and 782 m2/g). As a result of its desirable hierarchically porous structures, it adsorbs dyes fast and efficiently, attributed to the rich specific surface area that favors adsorption capability and pore size distribution that affects mass transport and adsorption speed. The adsorption for Rhodamine B and Congo Red is spontaneous and endothermic process. The adsorption capacities reach 357 and 780 mg/g for Rhodamine B and Congo Red, respectively, while the rate constants for adsorption (ka) and desorption (kd) for Rhodamine B are 4.23 × 10–3 L/(mg·min) and 0.12 L/min, and 1.02 × 10–3 L/(mg·min) and 5.6 × 10–3 L/min for Congo Red. With the easy preparation procedure and the desirable hierarchically porous structures, sucrose-derived activated carbons are promising candidates for potential practical applications.

Collision tumors of the ovaries are rare, with only a few reports in the literature. Adult granulosa cell tumors are a relatively common primary tumor component of previously reported collision tumors. The combination of serous and mucinous tumors with adult granulosa cell tumors has been reported in several cases. On the other hand, mesonephric-like adenocarcinomas are rare neoplasms that commonly arise in the uterine corpus and ovaries. In this report, we present the case of a collision tumor composed of an adult granulosa cell tumor and mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma of the ovary in a 63-year-old woman. The initial magnetic resonance imaging findings showed a cystic mass with an internal hemorrhage, which suggested an adult granulosa cell tumor, and a solid mass with different enhancements. Microscopically, the tumor had two distinct components: An adult granulosa cell tumor and a mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma. Recognizing collision tumors consisting of slow-growing and aggressive tumors may prove beneficial in future diagnostic and treatment strategies.

AbstractDate fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a sweet fruit with high antioxidant activity due to the presence of phenolic compounds such as flavonoids. Similarly, wheat flour is a rich source of dietary fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, and different phytochemicals, providing many health benefits. Cookies were prepared from wheat flour and date paste (as a sugar substitute) in different proportions (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%). Cookies were analyzed for proximate composition (moisture, crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, mineral, and ash content), physical properties (diameter, texture, color, and spread ratio), antioxidant activity (DPPH), total flavonoid content (TFC) and total phenolic content (TPC). The mean results from all the experiments indicated that the addition of date pulp in cookies had a highly significant (p

The aim of the present research was to develop a magnetic coconut carbon composite (Fe2O3/Fe3O4@CNC) as a solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent for the analysis of carcinogenic N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in pharmaceuticals. Coconut composites modified with Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 were prepared and applied as SPE sorbent for the extraction of NDMA in pharmaceuticals. The sorbent was characterized with X-Ray, infrared spectroscopy and nitrogen porosimetry. The best ions for the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry with Selected Ion Monitoring (GC-MS/SIM) analysis were m/z 74 and 42 for NDMA, and m/z 80 and 46 for NDMA-d6 internal standard. System has offered great method performance in terms of sensitivity limit of quantitation (LOQ) 16 ng kg−1. The developed sorbent has enhanced the sensitivity and speed of analysis. The developed method was applied to authenticate the presence of NDMA in various pharmaceutical samples. Among the analyzed samples, NDMA impurities were relatively identified at high amounts in nizatidine samples.Highlights NDMA was verified in ranitidine, metformin and nizatidineFe2O3/Fe3O4@CNC composite was used for NDMA identification without pretreatmentSPE sorbent enhance sensitivity, reduce analysis time, sustain accuracy & precisionHigh level of NDMA impurity were found in nizatidine pharmaceuticals.

Meat-based products are highly susceptible to weak gel formation upon heating. In this study, the effect of different emulsifiers on the rheological, pasting and microstructural properties of meat-based sugar-snap cookies was investigated. Cookies were processed with the addition of freeze-dried fish meat (1% w/w) and emulsifiers (0.5% w/w of wheat flour). The addition of emulsifiers especially diacetyl tartaric acid ester of mono- and diglycerides (DATEM) increased storage modulus (G′), a viscous behavior, compared to control and other emulsifiers. Expansion and hardness were significantly (P

Water pollution is major issue in global due rapid industrialization. The release of textile dyes from the industries to the environment has become a significant health issue to humans, trees and animals. The work describes the green synthesis of Mexican mint leaves plant derived silver nanoparticles (MM-AgNPs). The synthesized MM-AgNPs was well characterized by several techniques. MM-AgNPs used as photocatalytic degradation of toxic dyes and catalytic transformation of 4-nitrophenol into 4-aminophenol. Interestingly, Toluidine blue, Congo red, Pyronine Y dye, after mixing with NaBH4 and MM-AgNPs were completely decolorized. The degradation efficiency was calculated for each dye and kinetic parameters. Also, MM-AgNPs act good catalyst for the decolorized of dyes from industrial wastewater and degradation mechanism was proposed. Further synthesized MM-AgNPs applied as a catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol within 8 min. Finally, this work is more suitable for the good photocatalytic degradation and reduction in the filled of interdisciplinary material science and environmental science.

Objectives: The objective of the current study was to optimize a highly sensitive method utilizing microwave digestion and iCAP quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q ICP-MS) for the determination of toxic alkali, alkaline and heavy metals in drinking water, and their implications on human health. Methods: A highly sensitive method based on microwave digestion and iCAP Q ICP-MS have been applied for the determination of potential metals alkali (23Na), alkaline (24 Mg) and heavy metals (75As, 208Pb, 111Cd, 59Co, 66Zn and 63Cu) in drinking water of diverse brand and origin. Results: The system has provided excellent quality conditions, such as detection limit (DL, 0.007–0.296 µg/L), quantification limit (QL, 0.023–0.893 µg/L) and coefficient of determination (R2, 0.976–0.998) with recovery >99.95%. Amounts of metals in bottled drinking water (BDW) were ranged from not detected to 74847.15 µg/L, whereas, tap water (TW) constitutes 1.12 to 42776.89 µg/L. Average daily dose (ADD, 0.03–516.715 μg/kg/day), hazard quotient (HQ, 0.001–0.08 μg/kg/day) based on heavy metals oral reference dose, and cancer risk (CR, 0.45–244.67 μg/kg/day) based on heavy metals cancer slope factor were achieved for BDW. Nevertheless, ADD (0.03–1028.19 μg/kg/day), HQ (0.01–0.12 μg/kg/day) and CR (0.42–292.80 μg/kg/day) were obtained for TW. As a result, BDW produced lower toxicity values than TW (high risk). Additionally, BDW was found to be brand specific, particularly for international brands that contained zero or very low levels of metals. Conclusions: Current investigations have explored the possible impacts of progressively increasing consumption of drinking water, especially in Saudi Arabia. Up to the present time, the levels of potential heavy metal in such water pose predominantly higher toxicity values in TW. Besides, BDW was found to be the brand specific particularly the international brand which contained either zero or low level of metals. As a result, the results highlight the need for strict policies to address the threat of metals in public water.

Inherent magnetic features of engineered nanomaterials are quite important parameters for biomedical applications and cancer treatments. In this study, cobalt ferrite (CF-NPs) and magnesium-cobalt ferrite (MCF-NPs) magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by aqueous extract of turmeric, characterized by various instruments, and utilized for anticancer activity. These are characterized with TG-DTG, XRD, SEM, BET, FTIR, and UV–Vis sophisticated techniques. The results revealed that they have inverse cubic spinel structure, optically active and nanoscale spherical morphology. The particle size was calculated by the Scherrer formula and was found to be 24.78 nm for CF-NPs and 27.48 nm for MCF-NPs, respectively. Moreover, MTT method was used to find out anticancer activity of the fabricated CF-NPs and MCF-NPs using the human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and data discloses that cytotoxicity effects of CF-NPs are higher than MCF-NPs, and dose dependent. At high dose (100 μg/ml), CF-NPs shows 45.76% and 61.57% in CF-NPs and MCF-NPs cell viability, respectively. Similarly, cellular ROS generation was found to be higher in CF-NPs (183 %) as compared to MCF-NPs (159% in at 100 μg/ml). By the obtained results it can be claimed that ferrites will be useful model for cancer treatments if they are explored at advance level.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs; e.g., glyoxal, methylglyoxal or carboxymethyl-lysine) are heterogenous group of toxic compounds synthesized in the body through both exogenous and endogenous pathways. AGEs are known to covalently modify proteins bringing about loss of functional alteration in the proteins. AGEs also interact with their receptor, receptor for AGE (RAGE) and such interactions influence different biological processes including oxidative stress and apoptosis. Previously, AGE-RAGE axis has long been considered to be the maligning factor for various human diseases including, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, aging, etc. Recent developments have revealed the involvement of AGE-RAGE axis in different pathological consequences associated with the onset of neurodegeneration including, disruption of blood brain barrier, neuroinflammation, remodeling of extracellular matrix, dysregulation of polyol pathway and antioxidant enzymes, etc. In the present article, we attempted to describe a new avenue that AGE-RAGE axis culminates to different pathological consequences in brain and therefore, is a central instigating component to several neurodegenerative diseases (NGDs). We also invoke that specific inhibitors of TIR domains of TLR or RAGE receptors are crucial molecules for the therapeutic intervention of NGDs. Clinical perspectives have also been appropriately discussed.

Post-Infectious Glomerulonephritis (PIGN) is a disease of childhood. It is an important cause of acute kidney injury in childhood. It is now frequently identified in elderly people with compromised immune status and risk factors like malignancy and diabetes mellitus (DM). We have reported two cases of patients (age: 61 years and 80 years) which presented to us with unexplained renal failure. Both patients required renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the form of hemodialysis for their renal failure. Auto-immune workup for both patients was negative. Renal biopsy was performed and a diagnosis of PIGN was established on the basis of histopathological characteristics. We treated both cases with intravenous antibiotics. Renal parameters of both patients started improving and both achieved full renal recovery on long-term follow-up of 18 months. PIGN can be seen in the adult population and should not be considered solely a childhood disease

Lycium barbarum seed meal contains a variety of bioactive compounds, but the use of L. barbarum seed meal in the food industry is rare. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of reducing sugars on the structural and flavor properties of the Maillard reaction products (MRPs) of the Lycium barbarum seed meal hydrolysate (LSH). The results showed that the flavors and tastes of the MRPs were affected by reducing sugars. In comparison to oligosaccharides, monosaccharides were more suitable for the development of MRPs with good sensory qualities. The structural characteristics of L. barbarum seed meal precursor MRPs were also affected by reducing sugars. The MRPs produced with the participation of monosaccharides had higher ultraviolet absorption and browning than the MRPs produced with oligosaccharides. The molecular weights of the MRPs were found to be 128–500 Da and 500–1000 Da. Compared to the MRPs made from other sugars, xylose-meridian products (X-MRPs) had a stronger meaty flavor. The mellowness and continuity of the MRPs made from monosaccharides were superior to those made from oligosaccharides. The MRPs formed by L. barbarum seed meal exhibited the characteristics of umami and meat flavor. MRPs with better flavors may be used to develop new types of seasoning salts.

Microplastic pollution has become a global concern, with potential negative impacts on various ecosystems and wildlife species. Among these species, ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) are particularly vulnerable due to their feeding habits and proximity to aquatic environments contaminated with microplastics. The current study was designed to monitor microplastic (MP) pollutants in the freshwater ecosystem of the Panjkora River, Lower Dir, Pakistan. A total of twenty (20) duck samples were brought up for four months and 13 days on the banks of the river, with no food intake outside the river. When they reached an average weight of 2.41 ± 0.53 kg, all samples were sacrificed, dissected, and transported in an ice box to the laboratory for further analysis. After sample preparation, such as digestion with 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH), density separation, filtration, and identification, the MP content was counted. A total of 2033 MP particles were recovered from 20 ducks with a mean value of 44.6 ± 15.8 MPs/crop and 57.05 ± 18.7 MPs/gizzard. MPs detected in surface water were 31.2 ± 15.5 MPs/L. The major shape types of MPs recovered were fragments in crop (67%) and gizzard (58%) samples and fibers in surface water (56%). Other types of particles recovered were fibers, sheets, and foams. The majority of these detected MP particles were in the size range of 300–500 µm (63%) in crops, and 50–150 µm (55%) in gizzards, while in water samples the most detected particles were in the range of 150–300 µm (61%). Chemical characterization by FTIR found six types of polymers. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) had the greatest polymer detection rate (39.2%), followed by polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (28.3%), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) (22.7%), polystyrene (6.6%), co-polymerized polypropylene (2.5%), and polypropylene homopolymer (0.7%). This study investigated the presence of microplastics in the crops and gizzards of ducks, as well as in river surface water. The results revealed the significant and pervasive occurrence of microplastics in both the avian digestive systems and the surrounding water environment. These findings highlight the potential threat of microplastic pollution to wildlife and ecosystems, emphasizing the need for further research and effective mitigation strategies to address this pressing environmental concern.

Ti3C2-MXene material, known for its strong electronic conductivity and optical properties, has emerged as a promising alternative to noble metals as a cocatalyst for the development of efficient photocatalysts used in environmental cleanup. In this study, we investigated the photodegradation of crystal-violet (CV) dye when exposed to UV light using a newly developed photocatalyst known as Ti3C2-MXene/NiO nanocomposite-decorated CsPbI3 perovskite, which was synthesized through a hydrothermal method. Our research investigation into the structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of the Ti3C2-MXene/NiO/CsPbI3 composite using techniques such as FTIR, XRD, TEM, SEM–EDS mapping, XPS, UV–Vis, and PL spectroscopy. The photocatalytic efficacy of the Ti3C2-MXene/NiO/CsPbI3 composite was assessed by evaluating its ability to degrade CV dye in an aqueous solution under UV-light irradiation. Remarkably, the Ti3C2-MXene/NiO/CsPbI3 composite displayed a significant improvement in both the degradation rate and stability of CV dye when compared to the Ti3C2-MXene/NiO nanocomposite and CsPbI3 perovskite materials. Furthermore, the UV–visible absorption spectrum of the Ti3C2-MXene/NiO/CsPbI3 composite demonstrated a reduced band gap of 2.41 eV, which is lower than that of Ti3C2-MXene/NiO (3.10 eV) and Ti3C2-MXene (1.60 eV). In practical terms, the Ti3C2-MXene/NiO/CsPbI3 composite achieved an impressive 92.8% degradation of CV dye within 90 min of UV light exposure. We also confirmed the significant role of photogenerated holes and radicals in the CV dye removal process through radical scavenger trapping experiments. Based on our findings, we proposed a plausible photocatalytic mechanism for the Ti3C2-MXene/NiO/CsPbI3 composite. This research may open up new avenues for the development of cost-effective and high-performance MXene-based perovskite photocatalysts, utilizing abundant and sustainable materials for environmental remediation.

Objectives: In this study, extracts from different parts of traditionally used medicinal plants were evaluated for their antioxidant activities in vitro. Methods: The free radical hunting or scavenging activity was measured by sample absorbance at 517 nm using spectrophotometer. Methanol and DPPH were used as a blank and negative control, respectively. Results: Medicinal plants showed high values of total phenolic (expressed as gallic acid equivalent, GAE) and flavonoid (expressed as quercetin equivalent, QE) contents of ethanolic extracts of Euphrasiae stricta (E. stricta, 58.19 GAE μg/mg) and (42.44 QE μg/mg), Euphorbia platyphyllos L. (E. platyphyllos L., 46.05 GAE μg/mg) and (43.39 QE μg/mg), Epimedium brevicomum Maxim. (E. brevicomum Maxim., 51.93 GAE μg/mg), and (39.21 QE μg/mg), respectively. Plants have been found to be rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds, and their hydroxyl groups are responsible for scavenging free radicals. Highest radical scavenging activity was observed in the E. stricta (IC50 = 38.972 μg/mL), E. platyphyllos L. (IC50 = 40.817 μg/mL), and E. brevicomum Maxim (IC50 = 46.265 μg/mL), medicinal plants for both of their ethanolic and methanolic extracts as compared to the ascorbic acid scavenging activity (IC50 = 37.337 μg/mL). Conclusions: It was found that the studied plants are capable of acting as important antioxidants that can be used to treat and inhibit extensive degenerative diseases caused by oxidative stress., including cancer, cardiovascular and inflammation diseases, atherosclerosis, dementia, diabetes, asthma, and eye degenerative diseases.

Poor solubility of wheat gluten proteins (WG) has negative impact on functional attributes such as gelation and emulsification, which limits it use in the food industry. In this study, WG underwent different degrees of phosphorylation using sodium tripolyphosphate (STP). Phosphoric acid groups were successfully incorporated in the WG via covalent bonding (C–N–P and C–O–P) involving hydroxyl and primary amino groups from WG. The introduction of phosphoric acid groups increased the negative charge of phosphorylation-WG, which caused the enhancement of electrostatic repulsion between proteins and reduced the droplet size in emulsions, thereby allowing proteins to be more efficiently dispersed in the solution system. The change of structure induced with phosphorylation improved hydration of protein, making the WG with higher solubility, thereby resulting in the improvement of its emulsification, foaming, thermal stability, and rheological properties. Therefore, WG can be modified by phosphorylation which caused an overall improvement of functional properties, thus facilitating the expansion of WG applications.

Accurate load forecasting (LF) plays an important role in the operation and decision-making process of the power grid. Although the stochastic and nonlinear behavior of loads is highly dependent on consumer energy requirements, that demands a high level of accuracy in LF. In spite of several research studies being performed in this field, accurate load forecasting remains an important consideration. In this article, the design of a hybrid short-term load forecasting model (STLF) is proposed. This work combines the features of an artificial neural network (ANN), ensemble forecasting, and a deep learning network. RBFNNs and CNNs are trained in two phases using the functional link artificial neural network (FLANN) optimization method with a deep learning structure. The predictions made from RBFNNs have been computed and produced as the forecast of each activated cluster. This framework is known as fuzzy-RBFNN. This proposed framework is outlined to anticipate one-week ahead load demand on an hourly basis, and its accuracy is determined using two case studies, i.e., Hellenic and Cretan power systems. Its results are validated while comparing with four benchmark models like multiple linear regression (MLR), support vector machine (SVM), ML-SVM, and fuzzy-RBFNN in terms of accuracy. To demonstrate the performance of RBF-CNN, SVMs replace the RBF-CNN regressor, and this model is identified as an ML-SVM having 3 layers.

Renewable energy is the best option for the challenge of dwindling natural resources and energy scarcity. The utilization of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is the best option for eliminating the energy deficit in Tanzania due to the available great potential of solar energy. Animal manure is a significant source of waste in rural locations which can be transformed into biogas fuel by an anaerobic process. Livestock and agriculture greatly support economically the majority of the sub-Saharan African (SSA) region’s rural population including Tanzania, and excreta from cattle are beneficial for biogas fuel production. Unfortunately, the high potential of animal waste for generating electricity is underutilized. Integrating solar energy sources and biogas fuel derived from animal manure is useful for mitigating energy shortage, power instability, and environmental issues. Off-grid solar PV biogas-based hybrid microgrid systems for rural electrification applications in the Tanzanian environment are limited, and also, most of the studies are extensively carried out using soft computing tools especially hybrid optimization of multiple energy resources (HOMER) software with limited applications of artificial intelligence (AI) optimization techniques. This paper presents technoeconomic viability analysis for a hybrid renewable energy supply system (HRESS) for the Simboya village in Mbeya region, Tanzania. Off-grid HRESS is designed and optimized to meet the load of the chosen location executed using HOMER software and the grey wolf optimization (GWO) method. The microgrid is anticipated to supply daily maximum demand of 63.41 kW. The residential load profile equals 30 kW representing 50% of the daily demand. Optimization results by the HOMER platform indicate that the system has a total net present cost (NPC) and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of $106,383.50 and $0.1109/kWh, respectively. Furthermore, this paper presents the optimization and sensitivity analysis results acquired by the GWO method under varied values of Loss of Electrical Power Probability (LEPP). Total NPC and LCOE based on LEPP values of 0, 0.04, and 0.06 are $85,106.8, $79,545.99, and $71,747.36 and $0.0887/kWh, $0.0316/kWh, and $0.0102/kWh, respectively. HRESS is economically and environmentally beneficial for supplying electricity to the selected area and worldwide in similar situations.

The purpose of this study was to develop a composite film composed of eugenol Pickering emulsion and pullulan–gelatin, and to evaluate its preservation effect on chilled beef. The prepared composite film was comprehensively evaluated in terms of the stability of emulsion, the physical properties of the film, and an analysis of freshness preservation for chilled beef. The emulsion size (296.0 ± 10.2 nm), polydispersity index (0.457 ± 0.039), and potential (20.1 ± 0.9 mV) proved the success of emulsion. At the same time, the films displayed good mechanical and barrier properties. The index of beef preservation also indicated that eugenol was a better active ingredient than clove essence oil, which led to the rise of potential of hydrogen, chroma and water content, and effectively inhibited microbial propagation, protein degradation and lipid oxidation. These results suggest that the prepared composites can be used as promising materials for chilled beef preservation.

In this work, the role of tannic acid (TA) and Fe3+ in crosslinking pectin (PE) to enhance its physicochemical properties was investigated. Specifically, PE/TA/Fe3+ composite films were prepared using the solution casting method, and the UV-blocking properties, transparency, water content, physico-mechanical properties, antioxidant properties and degradability of the PE composite films were investigated. The microstructure of the PE composite films and the interactions between the contained components were analyzed using FTIR, X_crystal diffraction and SEM scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the addition of TA and Fe3+ can significantly improve the UV barrier properties and antioxidant properties of PE films. Meanwhile, Fe3+ could form a metal phenol network with TA and crosslink with the PE film, which makes the structure of the PE film denser and thus significantly reduces the water vapor permeability of the PE film. In addition, this work also indicated that the PE composite coatings have a favorable preservation effect on passion fruit, which leads to the lowest weight loss rate and wrinkle index of the passion fruit within 7 days of storage and shows good appearance quality and commercial value. This work indicates that the addition of tannic acid and Fe3+ significantly improved the mechanical and barrier properties of pectin films, and the composite pectin coating extended the shelf life of passion fruit.

The purpose of this study was to explore the film-forming properties of cinnamon essential oil (CEO) and chitosan (CS) and the effect of their composite coating on postharvest apple diseases. The results demonstrated that the composite coating exhibits favorable film-forming properties at CEO concentrations below 4% (v/v). The effectiveness of the composite coating in disease control can be attributed to two factors: the direct inhibitory activity of CEO against pathogens in vitro and the induced resistance triggered by CS on the fruits. Importantly, the incorporation of CEO did not interfere with the induction of resistance by CS in harvested apples. However, it is noteworthy that the inhibitory effect of the CS–CEO composite coating on apple diseases diminished over time. Therefore, a key aspect of enhancing the preservation ability of fruits is improving the controlled release properties of CEO within CS coatings. This will enable a sustained and prolonged antimicrobial effect, thereby bolstering the fruit preservation capabilities of the composite coatings.

Novel photoluminescent carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method using Hibiscus tea extract as a natural carbon source and boric acid as a boron source. The optical and physicochemical properties of the as-synthesized nitrogen- and boron-doped CDs (NB-CDs) were characterized using UV–Visible (UV–Vis), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The as-synthesized NB-CDs showed spherical morphology of approximately 6.2 ± 0.5 nm with quantum yield (9.2%), high aqueous solubility, strong photo-stability, and excitation-dependent PL behavior. The obtained NB-CDs exhibited high stability over a wide pH range and high ionic strength. Additionally, NB-CDs exhibited PL enhancement response with excellent sensitivity toward multi-metal ions, including Ag+, Cd2+, and Cr3+ ions, with very low detection limits of 44.5, 164.4, and 54.6 nM, respectively, with a wide concentration range of 0–10 μM. Upon testing the cytotoxicity of the NB-CDs at a concentration of 20 μg/mL for 24 h, we found no obvious inhibition of cell viability. Therefore, the proposed sensor method can be successfully applied to detect Ag+, Cd2+, and Cr3+ ions in cell imaging as well as in real water environmental samples.

This study seeks to enhance bilayer membranes using a combination of chitosan and sodium alginate (CS/SA) with phytochemical compounds extracted from olive leaves (CS/SA-OLE), intended for use as a skin dressing. Olive leaf extracts (OLE) were sustainably obtained and showed a phenolic composition of 114.49 mgGAE·g−1 and antioxidant activity of 94.25%. CS/AS and CS/SA-OLE were prepared using the casting method. The results showed that the addition of OLE improved the mechanical and barrier properties of the membranes. The elongation at break increased from 9.99 to 14.68%, and the water transmission rate reduced from 2207.78 to 2094.33 (g·m−2·24 h−1) after the addition of OLE. The FTIR spectra showed functional groups of phenolic compounds, and the thermogravimetric analysis showed that the addition of OLE improved the thermal stability of the membranes. In addition, the CS/SA-OLE membranes showed active potential with inhibition halos (12.19 mm) against the microorganism Escherichia coli. The membranes generated in this research, particularly those with the addition of natural extracts, exhibit significant promise for utilization as wound dressings.

In the current study, apple-pectin-based novel nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and apple pectin (PEC) solution were mixed to obtain an optimized ratio for the preparation of electrospun nanofibers. The obtained nanofibers were characterized for their physiochemical, mechanical and thermal properties. The nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Furthermore, an assay of the in vitro viability of free and encapsulated probiotics was carried out under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The results of TGA revealed that the PVA/PEC nanofibers had good thermal stability. The probiotics encapsulated by electrospinning showed a high survival rate as compared to free cells under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Furthermore, encapsulated probiotics and free cells showed a 3 log (cfu/mL) and 10 log (cfu/mL) reduction, respectively, from 30 to 120 min of simulated digestion. These findings indicate that the PVA/PEC-based nanofibers have good barrier properties and could potentially be used for the improved viability of probiotics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions and in the development of functional foods.

Lead (Pb(II)), an extremely hazardous heavy metal that has been shown to have detrimental effects on both the environment and humans, mostly gets into the ecosystem through industrial activities. In this work, a new solid-phase extraction (SPE) based on treated date pits bio-sorbent and iCAP Q inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (iCAP Q ICP/MS) method has been optimized for the trace determination of Pb(II) in various industrial wastewater effluents. A cost-effective biomass material was prepared from date pits (DP), and chemically modified with H2O2 and successively used as SPE bio-sorbent for Pb(II) extraction. Extracting solutions for instance H2SO4, HNO3 and HCl at various concentrations (1–5 mM) were optimized, and best extraction of Pb(II) was obtained by HCl (1 mM). The optimized SPE and iCAP Q ICP/MS method has offered excellent validation conditions in terms of coefficient of determination (CoD, R2 > 0.999), detection limit (DL, 0.011 µg/L), quantification limit (QL, 0.034 µg/L), and run-to-run and day-to-day precision (RSD

Several experimental and biological studies have emphasized the tumor suppression efficacy and low toxicity of Apigenin (API); however, its exact underlying mechanism on human endometrial carcinoma Ishikawa cell line (EC) is still unknown. We found that API could inhibit the proliferation of Ishikawa cells at IC50 of 45.55 μM, arrest the cell cycle at G2/M phase, induce apoptosis by inhibiting Bcl-xl and increasing Bax, Bak and Caspases. Further, API could induce apoptosis by activating the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway by increasing the Ca2+, ATF4, and CHOP. It could impede cell migration and invasion through PI3K-AKT-GSK-3β signaling pathway, preventing wound healing, restraining cells migration from the upper chamber to the lower chamber. This study demonstrated that API can be used as a promising dietary supplement and an adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent for cancer treatment.

Lycium barbarum seed dreg polysaccharides (LBSDPs) were continuously extracted with four different solvents [hot buffer (HBSS), chelating agent (CHSS), dilute alkaline (DASS), and concentrated alkaline (CASS)]. The present study characterized the physicochemical and anti-oxidant based functional properties of different LBSDPs. The monosaccharide analysis revealed xylose (64.63%, 70.00%, 44.71%, and 66.67%) as the main sugar with the molecular weights of 5985, 7062, 5962, and 8762 Da in HBSS, CHSS, DASS, and CASS, respectively. Among the four polysaccharides, CASS had the strongest DPPH radical scavenging ability and reducing power; while, CHSS had the strongest ferrous ions chelating ability and HBSS showed the strongest OH radical scavenging ability. In terms of functional properties, HBSS and CASS had better solubility and oil holding capacity, while, CASS and CHSS had higher foam capacity and foam stability. Altogether, the polysaccharides extracted from L. barbarum seed dreg exhibit a potential application prospect in functional food and cosmetics industries.

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is an oily wastewater generated by palm oil processing mills. Most palm oil factories and refineries have their own treatment system such as anaerobic digestion system and electrocoagulation (EC). In this study, a new method, integrated electrocoagulation (EC)-membrane system is introduced to treat the POME. The treatment efficiency and economic feasibility of the developed integrated EC-membrane is also evaluated by comparing with EC standalone system. This study highlights that the removal of POME by EC has increased with extended time and increasing voltage. Besides, the integrated EC-membrane shows better removal efficiency compared to the EC system. For model development, both standard least squares model for EC and integrated membrane-EC systems created by using JMP software showed a good fit and able to be used for further efficiency calculation. The economic analysis result shows that integrated EC-membrane method has a higher capital cost with lower in the operating cost per year than EC method. 75% color removal efficiency is achievable by integrated EC-membrane system at voltage 1 V and 2 V in which EC method requires voltage of 4 V and higher. Notably, the total cost of integrated EC-membrane system at the first year of implementation is lower than the EC system and in 15 years period has a 21.24% lesser cost compared to EC system.

Due to the increasing cost of crude oil because of pandemic COVID-19 and global environmental threats, the exploitation of fossil fuels for power generation is discouraged. Further, the demand for electrical power is increasing drastically, and therefore, the exploitation of renewable energy resources, particularly solar photovoltaic-based technology for power generation is invigorated. However, the large-scale penetration of solar photovoltaic is becoming a major challenge in terms of stability, reliability of power when integrated with the grid. Thus, it becomes important to develop a novel approach or strategy which is useful to improve power quality, reliability, and grid stability. Solar photovoltaic power forecasting is a key tool for this new era and becoming the main component for a smart grid environment. Here, in this paper, the ensemble trees approach-based machine learning approach is utilized to forecast the solar photovoltaic power with the help of various meteorological parameters. The high-quality measured data for meteorological parameters for Qassim, Saudi Arabia is used in this research. The performance of the proposed model is evaluated with the help of statistical indices such as Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Square Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Training Time (TT) and found within the desired limits. To validate the obtained results a comparative analysis with other machine learning models is carried out. Moreover, the proposed research may provide the roadmap in achieving the vision 2030 of the government of Saudi Arabia.

The different energy assets such as solar panels and batteries help electrical engineers to manage and meet the increasing demand. The amalgamation of renewable energy resources with artificial intelligence is the key focus of providing high energy efficiency with alternative sources. This solution will not only meet electricity demand but also help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a result the efficient, sustainable and eco-friendly solution can be achieved which would contribute a lot to the smart grid environment. Here, a modified grey wolf optimizer approach is utilized to develop a novel energy management system for SPV-based microgrid considering modern power grid interactions. The proposed approach aims to provide a proficient microgrid that utilizes solar photovoltaic technology, and energy storage systems using an artificial intelligence algorithm-based microgrid control for optimal dispatch of energy in grid-connected systems. The performance of this novel energy management system is validated under sunny day and cloudy day, to emulate the stochastic nature of solar photovoltaic systems. A comparative study with mixed linear programming is also conducted that indicates towards the savings in 23.34% and 45.55% of the rolling cost for a clear and cloudy day respectively.

Sulfite ion play a crucial role in the atmospheric environment, its presence in water system is very unsafe to both the human and food production due to the formation of acid after reaction with water (acid rain). In the current investigation, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) method was used for the identification and quantification of sulfite ion in drinking water and the process was optimized. In this study, a reversed phase BEH C18 chromatography column was applied for the separation of sulfite ion using binary mobile phase comprising water and methanol (95:5, v/v), separation was attained in less than 1 min. Method validation parameters in terms of linearity (r2), limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ) and precision were established. The linearity (r2 > 0.999) and, LOD and LOQ were obtained 0.003 µg/mL and 0.01 µg/mL respectively. The precision in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD) was found to be

Water quality especially drinking water is highly significant to human lives. To access the safe and secure drinking water, nowadays it has become an issue of global concerns. A novel method using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was proposed to analyze sulfate level in bottled and metropolitan water collected from various provinces of Saudi Arabia. The chromatographic analysis was achieved within 1 min with reversed phase Waters Acquity® BEH C18 column and a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The performance of the optimized system was established, attaining linearity (r2 > 0.999) over a wide-ranging concentration from several below hundred mg/L to the detection limit of sulfate. In terms of relative standard deviation of the samples (RSD%), the excellent run-to-run (

Bisphenol A (BPA) has been recognized as an endocrine disruptor, found in numerous products for instance water bottles, food cans and baby bottles. In this investigation, an improved method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was optimized for the extraction and identification of BPA in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and glass bottled drinking water samples of diverse trademarks and origin. The extraction of BPA was carried out using Bond-Elut-C18 SPE cartridge without any further purification of the sample extracts. Under the most favorable extraction parameters, the system has revealed excellent linearity with correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.999), limit of detection (0.01 µg/L), limit of quantification (0.04 µg/L) and precision in terms of intra- and inter-day, providing relative standard deviation (RSD%) values

Objectives: In the present work, the inhibitory effect of culinary herbs Za'atar (blend of thyme, sesame seeds and sumac) marinades on the formation of polar (quinoxalines, quinolines and pyridines) and non-polar (α-carbolines, β-carbolines, γ-carbolines and δ-carbolines) heterocyclic amines (HCAs) in cooked beef patties were investigated. Methods: The beef patties were subjected to pan-frying under controlled temperature and time, HCAs analysis was carried out by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Results: The amounts of HCAs quinoxalines (0.74–2.88 ng/g), quinolines (0.54–0.75 ng/g), pyridines (1.66–6.32 ng/g), α-carbolines (

Because of the fast expansion of electric vehicles (EVs) in Saudi Arabia, a massive amount of energy will be needed to serve these vehicles. In addition, the transportation sector radiates a considerable amount of toxic gases in the form of SO2 and CO2. The national grid must supply a huge amount of electricity on a regular basis to meet the increasing power demands of EVs. This study thoroughly investigates the technical and economic benefits of an off-grid and grid-connected hybrid energy system with various configurations of a solar, wind turbine and battery energy storage system for the electric vehicle charging load in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. The goal is to decrease the cost of energy while reducing the chance of power outages in the system. This is achieved by using a new optimization algorithm called the modified salp swarm optimization algorithm (MSSOA), which is based on an evolutionary algorithm approach. MSSOA is an improved version of SSOA, which addresses its shortcomings. It has two search strategies to enhance its efficiency: first, it uses Levy flight distribution (LFD) to help individuals reach new positions faster, and second, it instructs individuals to spiral around the optimal solution, improving the exploitation phase. The MSSOA’s effectiveness is confirmed by comparing its results with those of the conventional salp swarm optimization algorithm and particle swarm optimization (PSO). According to simulation findings, MSSOA has excellent accuracy and robustness. In this region, the SPV/WT/BESS-based EV charging station is the optimal option for EV charging stations. The SPV/WT/BESS design has the lowest LCOE of all feasible configurations in the region under study. The optimum values for the LCOE and TNPC using MSSOA are USD 0.3697/kWh and USD 99,928.34, which are much lower than the optimized values for the LCOE (USD 0.4156) and TNPC (USD 1,12,671.75) using SSOA. Furthermore, a comprehensive techno–economic analysis of optimized hybrid systems is assessed by incorporating the grid-connected option. The grid connected system results in optimized values of the LCOE (USD 0.0732/kWh) and TNPC (USD 1,541,076). The impact of different grid purchase prices on the levelized cost of energy is also studied. Our results will assist the researchers to determine the best technique for the optimization of an optimal energy system.