Silica-Derived Nanostructured Electrode Materials for ORR, OER, HER, CO2RR Electrocatalysis, and Energy Storage Applications: A Review.

Silica-derived nanostructured catalysts (SDNCs) are a class of materials synthesized using nanocasting and templating techniques, which involve the sacrificial removal of a silica template to generate highly porous nanostructured materials. The surface of these nanostructures is functionalized with a variety of electrocatalytically active metal and non-metal atoms. SDNCs have attracted considerable attention due to their unique physicochemical properties, tunable electronic configuration, and microstructure. These properties make them highly efficient catalysts and promising electrode materials for next generation electrocatalysis, energy conversion, and energy storage technologies. The continued development of SDNCs is likely to lead to new and improved electrocatalysts and electrode materials. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the development of SDNCs for electrocatalysis and energy storage applications. It analyzes 337,061 research articles published in the Web of Science (WoS) database up to December 2022 using the keywords "silica", "electrocatalysts", "ORR", "OER", "HER", "HOR", "CO2RR", "batteries", and "supercapacitors". The review discusses the application of SDNCs for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR), supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and thermal energy storage applications. It concludes by discussing the advantages and limitations of SDNCs for energy applications.

Estimation of aerosol optical depth in relation to meteorological parameters over eastern and western routes of China Pakistan economic corridor.

This study finds out seasonal and monthly variations in Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) over eastern and western routes of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the relationship between AOD and meteorological parameters (i.e., temperature, rainfall and wind speed). The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) data was used from the terra satellite for the period of 2000-2016. This study aims to overtake the conventional view of the purpose of using the satellite datasets. This study takes on to the concept that validated satellite data sets rather should be used for the analysis instead of just validation specifically for our study region. Hence, after comparing MODIS AOD with MISR AOD, only MISR AOD dataset is used for further analysis. The results show a decreasing trend of AOD in summer season, a positive relationship between temperature and AOD during winter and spring seasons whereas a positive relationship between wind speed and AOD in winter and spring seasons over eastern and western routes. Periodic analysis of MODIS AOD and MISR AOD depicts May-Aug as the peak period of aerosol concentration over central Pakistan. The inter-annual analysis shows the aerosol trend remained higher during summer season however rainfall shows the washout effect. Eastern route has higher standard deviation and larger values for aerosol prevalence as compared to western route. The trajectory analysis using the HYSPLIT model suggests the bias of air mass trajectory caused deviation in the aerosol trend in the year 2014.

Recent Progress, Challenges, and Prospects in Two-Dimensional Photo-Catalyst Materials and Environmental Remediation.

The successful photo-catalyst library gives significant information on feature that affects photo-catalytic performance and proposes new materials. Competency is considerably significant to form multi-functional photo-catalysts with flexible characteristics. Since recently, two-dimensional materials (2DMs) gained much attention from researchers, due to their unique thickness-dependent uses, mainly for photo-catalytic, outstanding chemical and physical properties. Photo-catalytic water splitting and hydrogen (H2) evolution by plentiful compounds as electron (e-) donors is estimated to participate in constructing clean method for solar H2-formation. Heterogeneous photo-catalysis received much research attention caused by their applications to tackle numerous energy and environmental issues. This broad review explains progress regarding 2DMs, significance in structure, and catalytic results. We will discuss in detail current progresses of approaches for adjusting 2DMs-based photo-catalysts to assess their photo-activity including doping, hetero-structure scheme, and functional formation assembly. Suggested plans, e.g., doping and sensitization of semiconducting 2DMs, increasing electrical conductance, improving catalytic active sites, strengthening interface coupling in semiconductors (SCs) 2DMs, forming nano-structures, building multi-junction nano-composites, increasing photo-stability of SCs, and using combined results of adapted approaches, are summed up. Hence, to further improve 2DMs photo-catalyst properties, hetero-structure design-based 2DMs' photo-catalyst basic mechanism is also reviewed.

Synthesis of nano-hydroxyapatite and its rapid mediated surface functionalization by silane coupling agent.

In this work, hydroxyapatite (HA) nanorods were synthesized by simple one step wet precipitation method followed by their rapid surface functionalization via aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) to give modified (HA-APTS) product. Functionalized hydroxyapatite (HA-APTS) holds amino groups on their surface that can be further functionalized with other bioactive molecules. The extent of functionalization of HA was studied under three different processing conditions; at room temperature, at 80 °C and under microwave condition (600 W). Three different temperatures have been use for the purpose of comparison between the functionalized products so that we can judge that whether there is any effect of temperature on the final products. In the last we conclude that temperature has no effect. So microwave condition is best to carried out the functionalization in just 5 min.

Orthodontic Treatment Provided by General Dentists with Different Types of Appliances in Chattishgarh, India.

OBJECTIVE: The study was done to determine the quantity of orthodontics and the type of appliance used for orthodontic treatment by general dentist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 410 dentists completely participated in the study. The study included questions to know the positive effects of orthodontic treatment done by general dentists and their opinions and qualities regarding the provision of treatment. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version of 16.0 was used at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: One forty six (35.6%) dentists answered that they practice orthodontic treatment to their patients, of which most were providing removable appliances (39.5%). There was a significant difference between the groups toward the benefits of orthodontic treatment according to experience of service and locality. General dentist were providing this treatment mainly in the mixed dentition period i.e. 96(65.8%). Most of the participants gave positive response regarding expansion of their syllabus related to orthodontics. CONCLUSION: A significant difference in response to the benefits of the treatment were seen according to experience and are of practice and most of the participants showed positive response increasing their courses in orthodontics at undergraduate level.

DNA vaccines: roles against diseases.

Vaccination is the most successful application of immunological principles to human health. Vaccine efficacy needs to be reviewed from time to time and its safety is an overriding consideration. DNA vaccines offer simple yet effective means of inducing broad-based immunity. These vaccines work by allowing the expression of the microbial antigen inside host cells that take up the plasmid. These vaccines function by generating the desired antigen inside the cells, with the advantage that this may facilitate presentation through the major histocompatibility complex. This review article is based on a literature survey and it describes the working and designing strategies of DNA vaccines. Advantages and disadvantages for this type of vaccines have also been explained, together with applications of DNA vaccines. DNA vaccines against cancer, tuberculosis, Edwardsiella tarda, HIV, anthrax, influenza, malaria, dengue, typhoid and other diseases were explored.

Gene expression in Mammalian cells and its applications.

The production of proteins in appropriate quantity and quality is an essential requirement of the present time. There appears to be a progressive increase in the application of mammalian cells for proteins production. Expression systems utilizing mammalian cells for recombinant proteins are able to introduce proper protein folding, post-translational modifications, and product assembly, which are important for complete biological activity. This review article is totally based on literature survey. In this article much emphasis has been done on the mammalian expression system. The author focused on different mammalian cell lines that express the gene. The different vector systems that transfer the gene into mammalian cells like plasmid based expression vectors, adenovirus vectors, vaccinia vectors, retroviral vector and baculovirus as vectors were explored. The processes for the transfer of gene into mammalian cells were also reviewed. Application and limitations of mammalian expression system were also focused. The purpose of research in writing this article is to create awareness in researchers, starting their career in gene expression related to mammalian cells. The principal result and major conclusion of this article is to make available the molecular technologies, expression system and applications of gene expression in mammalian cell lines.