Insight into divergent chemical modifications of chitosan biopolymer: Review.

Chitosan is used in many applications due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, nonadhesiveness, and film-forming capabilities. Chitosan has antibacterial and antifungal activities, which are two of its other desirable attributes. However, chitosan can only dissolve in acidic liquids (1-3 % acetic acid), limiting its practical application. The hydroxyl and amino functional groups in the chitosan backbone are essential for chemical modification, which is a viable alternative for overcoming this obstacle. So, N- or O-, and N, O-substituted chitosan may yield derivatives with increased water solubility, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bio-evaluation. In the same manner, the physicochemical properties of chitosan, including its mechanical and thermal properties, can be improved by cross-linking reactions. This review provides an overview of chitosan, including its origins and their solubility. Also, the review extend and discuss in details most of all chemical reactions that happened on the amino group, hydroxyl group, or both amino group and hydroxyl group to create modified chitosan-based organic materials. Finally, the problems that still need to be solved and probable future areas for study are discussed.

Opioid and benzodiazepine requirements in critically ill post-surgical children with down syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Down syndrome (DS), or Trisomy 21, is defined by the existence of an additional chromosome 21. Various physiological considerations in DS patients might lead to challenges in adequate pain management and sedation after surgery. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the variations of the requirement needed for pain management and sedation in patients with DS who have undergone surgery compared to patients without DS. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies were conducted, focusing on critically ill patients with DS who were admitted to Intensive care units (ICUs) post-surgery and received opioids and/or benzodiazepines. Searches were conducted in four databases from their inception to November 18, 2023 (Pubmed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science). The primary outcome measured was the dosage of Oral Morphine Equivalent (OME) administered in the days following surgery. Fixed-effect models were used, an approach advisable when only a limited number of studies are available. RESULTS: Out of the 992 studies initially screened, the systematic review included ten studies, encompassing 730 patients, while the meta-analysis consisted of seven studies, encompassing 533 patients. Of the seven studies included in the analysis, 298 patients were identified to have DS, and 235 patients served as controls. Patients with DS showed a slight increase in OME needs on the first day, but this increase was not statistically significant (mean difference [MD] = 0.09; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: [-0.02, 0.20]; P = 0.11). There was also no significant difference in the requirement for Midazolam on the first day among DS patients (MD = 0.01; CI [-0.16, 0.19]; P = 0.88). In addition, the duration of mechanical ventilation was not statistically significant in patients with DS compared with the control group (MD = -1.46 hours; 95% CI [-9.74, 6.82]; P = 0.73). CONCLUSION: Patients with Down syndrome did not require more sedation or analgesia in the first three days after surgery than patients without Down syndrome. Additionally, the two groups showed no significant difference in the duration of mechanical ventilation.

Metachronous and Synchronous Triple Primary Lung Cancers in a Chronic Smoker.

Multiple primary lung cancers (MPLCs), characterized by the presence of more than one distinct primary lung tumors, may develop either synchronously (simultaneously) or metachronously (after initial cancer treatment). This case describes a rare occurrence of three primary lung cancers in a chronic smoker. After a lobectomy for right middle lobe adenocarcinoma (ADC), the patient was diagnosed with synchronous small cell carcinoma (SCLC) in the right upper lobe and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the right lower lobe. Notably, the ADC and subsequent lung cancers were metachronous. Due to her unsuitability for surgery, the patient pursued a treatment regimen involving radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. This case underscores the need for vigilant identification and comprehensive management of MPLCs, particularly in high-risk patients, to improve outcomes and reduce the burden of this rare condition.

Warfarin and Polypharmacy Challenges in Sudan: Drug Interactions in Patient Cohort.

Purpose: Warfarin plays an important role in anticoagulation therapy despite the availability of the newest oral anticoagulants, and achieving optimal anticoagulation is challenging due to its narrow therapeutic range and variable dose. This study aimed to highlight polypharmacy and drug interactions in patients receiving warfarin therapy at Medani Heart Centre, Sudan. Methods: This retrospective hospital-based study was conducted from May 2017 to October 2018. Each concurrent medication prescribed for 104 patients was collected and checked for drug-drug interactions using Medscape Reference-Drug Interaction Checker. The data were analysed by using SPSS 20, and descriptive statistics were used. Results: The results revealed that 95.2% of patients had more than three medications in their profile, (3-5), (6-9) and more than 10 medications were prescribed for 40.4%, 44.2% and 10.6% of patients, respectively. A total of 93.3% of patients had drug-drug interactions, as follows: (1-5), (6-10), (11-15), (16-20) and more than 20 drug-drug interactions were found in 31.7%, 32.7%, 19.2%, 5.8% and 3.8% of patients, respectively. A total of 178 warfarin-drug interactions were identified in 88.5% of the patients. The INR ranged between 2 and 2.99 in 13.4% of patients, and INR values below 2 and above 5 were found in 44.2% and 21.2% of patients, respectively. Analgesics (n=54; 30.3%), cardiovascular drugs (n=51; 28.6%), and anticoagulants (n=46; 25.8%) were the most common drug classes that interact with warfarin. Significant and serious types of interactions with warfarin were found in 51% and 37.5% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: This study highlights the complexity of managing warfarin therapy amid prevalent polypharmacy. A substantial majority of patients experienced multiple drug interactions. The identification of significant and serious interactions emphasizes the need for vigilant management strategies, including improved communication among healthcare professionals and targeted education for both providers and patients, to enhance the safety and efficacy of warfarin therapy.

Novel amino-ethyl carboxymethyl cellulose crosslinked ampholyte hydrogel development for Methyl orange removal from waste water.

In the modern era, with the rapid growth of various industries, the issues of energy crisis and environmental pollution have garnered increasing attention. One significant source of industrial pollution is printing and dyeing wastewater. This wastewater often contains dyes that have aromatic structures and azo groups, such as Methyl orange (MO), which are both toxic and difficult to degrade. If these dyes are released into the wastewater stream without any treatment, they can have adverse effects on ecological balance and human health. Therefore, it is crucial to identify suitable treatment strategies to efficiently remove dyes from wastewater systems before discharge. In this study, the Methyl orange (MO) azo dye has been removed from dyes-contaminated wastewater, for the first time, using a novel amino-ethyl carboxymethyl cellulose crosslinked ampholyte hydrogel (AECMC). Different characterization methods, including FTIR, TGA, and DSC were used to characterize the generated AECMC compounds. The water absorption and cationic exchange capacities were assessed. Factors affecting the MO anions adsorption including MO concentration, adsorption pH, temperature, time, adsorbent dose, and agitation speed have been investigated. Moreover, the kinetics of the adsorption process was assessed by the use of three models: pseudo-first-order, Pseudo-second-order, and Elovich. Moreover, the mechanism of the adsorption process was monitored using the Intraparticle diffusion and Boyd models. Additionally, the adsorption isotherm was examined using established models such as Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms. The thermodynamic characteristics of the MO adsorption process have been investigated at various adsorption temperatures using the Van't Hoff model. The results obtained from the study indicate that the process of MO adsorption adhered to the Pseudo-second-order kinetic model, the Langmuir isotherm model was found to be applicable, and spontaneous and exhibited an endothermic character. In conclusion, the developed novel amino-ethyl carboxymethyl cellulose crosslinked ampholyte hydrogels (AECMC) have successive in the removal of the MO anionic dye from contaminated wastewater.

Sustainable synthesis of magnetic petroleum coke/nonanyl chitosan composite for efficient removal of o-nitrophenol.

Worldwide industrialization has grown at a rapid pace, contaminating water resources, particularly with phenolic pollutants that pose a risk to aquatic systems and human health. The goal of this study is to create an inexpensive magnetic composite that can effectively remove nitrophenol (o-NP) using adsorptive means. In this instance, a nonanyl chitosan (N-Cs) derivative was synthesized and then combined with activated petroleum coke (AP-coke) and magnetic Fe3O4 to boost its adsorbability towards o-NP and to facilitate its separation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and zeta potential were employed to characterize the magnetic composite. The experimental results indicated that the Fe3O4/AP-coke/N-Cs composite possesses a greater affinity toward o-NP with a maximal efficiency reached 88% compared to 22.8, 31.2, and 45.8% for Fe3O4, AP-coke and N-Cs, respectively. The equilibrium adsorption data coincided with the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 291.55 mg/g at pH 6, whereas the pseudo second order kinetic model offered the best fit to the experimental data. Besides, the developed adsorbent preserved satisfactory adsorption characteristics after reuse for five successive cycles. The proposed adsorption mechanism involves the H-bonding, π-π interaction, hydrophobic interactions and electron donor-acceptor interactions. These findings hypothesize that the constructed magnetic composite could efficiently remove nitrophenols from polluted water with high performance and ease-separation.

Journey into the Esophageal Complications: Decoding Systemic Sclerosis with Cutting-Edge Endoscopy, Manometry, and Ambulatory pH-Study.

Purpose: Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disorder characterized by autoimmunity, fibrosis, and vasculopathy that affects the skin and internal organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the esophagus. This article highlights the characteristics and clinical symptoms of esophageal involvement in patients with SSc. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted between November 2022 to August 2023, including 26 already diagnosed cases of SSc in the Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation and Kurdistan Center for Gastroenterology and Hepatology-Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. Esophageal involvement was investigated using esophageal manometry, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), and 24-hour impedance-pH monitoring. Results: Females were significantly predominant (P = 0.019) regarding the symptoms; 76.9% of the patients had heart burn, 76.9% dysphagia, 73.1% water brush, and 69.2% regurgitation. In total, 69.2% of the patients showed erosive gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) on EGD, 76.9% had decreased lower esophageal sphincter pressure (DLESP) and decreased distal esophageal peristaltic contractions (DDEPC) on esophageal manometry, and 84.6% had reflux on pH monitoring. Raynaud's phenomenon is the most common and typically the earliest clinical manifestation of SSc. The presence of erosive GERD was found to significantly increase the risk of developing dysphagia (B = 4.725, P = 0.014, OR = 3.482) and regurgitation (B = 3.521, P = 0.006, OR = 4.030). Conclusion: It is crucial to take gender-specific considerations into account when diagnosing and managing esophageal complications in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Additionally, employing various diagnostic assessments to detect esophageal involvement during SSc is essential. Erosive GERD has been identified as a risk factor that contributes to the development of dysphagia and regurgitation in individuals with SSc.

Recent Advancements in Metallic Au- and Ag-Based Chitosan Nanocomposite Derivatives for Enhanced Anticancer Drug Delivery.

The rapid advancements in nanotechnology in the field of nanomedicine have the potential to significantly enhance therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. There is considerable promise for enhancing the efficacy of cancer therapy through the manufacture of innovative nanocomposite materials. Metallic nanoparticles have been found to enhance the release of anticancer medications that are loaded onto them, resulting in a sustained release, hence reducing the dosage required for drug administration and preventing their buildup in healthy cells. The combination of nanotechnology with biocompatible materials offers new prospects for the development of advanced therapies that exhibit enhanced selectivity, reduced adverse effects, and improved patient outcomes. Chitosan (CS), a polysaccharide possessing distinct physicochemical properties, exhibits favorable attributes for controlled drug delivery due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. Chitosan nanocomposites exhibit heightened stability, improved biocompatibility, and prolonged release characteristics for anticancer medicines. The incorporation of gold (Au) nanoparticles into the chitosan nanocomposite results in the manifestation of photothermal characteristics, whereas the inclusion of silver (Ag) nanoparticles boosts the antibacterial capabilities of the synthesized nanocomposite. The objective of this review is to investigate the recent progress in the utilization of Ag and Au nanoparticles, or a combination thereof, within a chitosan matrix or its modified derivatives for the purpose of anticancer drug delivery. The research findings for the potential of a chitosan nanocomposite to deliver various anticancer drugs, such as doxorubicin, 5-Fluroacil, curcumin, paclitaxel, and 6-mercaptopurine, were investigated. Moreover, various modifications carried out on the chitosan matrix phase and the nanocomposite surfaces to enhance targeting selectivity, loading efficiency, and pH sensitivity were highlighted. In addition, challenges and perspectives that could motivate further research related to the applications of chitosan nanocomposites in cancer therapy were summarized.

Construction of attapulgite decorated cetylpyridinium bromide/cellulose acetate composite beads for removal of Cr (VI) ions with emphasis on mechanistic insights.

Eco-friendly and renewable composite beads were constructed for efficient adsorptive removal of Cr (VI) ions. Attapulgite (ATP) clay decorated with cetylpyridinium bromide (CPBr) was impregnated into cellulose acetate (CA) beads, which were formulated through a simple and cost-effective solvent-exchange approach. FTIR, XRD, SEM, Zeta potential, and XPS characterization tools verified the successful formation of ATP-CPBr@CA beads. The composite beads displayed a spherical and porous shape with a positively charged surface (26.6 mV) at pH 2. In addition, higher adsorption performance was accomplished by ATP-CPBr@CA composite beads with ease of separation compared to their components. Meanwhile, equilibrium isotherms pointed out that the Langmuir model was optimal for describing the adsorption process of Cr (VI) with a maximal adsorption capacity of 302 mg/g. Moreover, the D-R isotherm model verified the physical adsorption process, while adsorption data obeyed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Further, XPS results hypothesized that the removal mechanism involves adsorption via electrostatic interactions, redox reaction, and co-precipitation. Interestingly, the ATP-CPBr@CA composite beads reserved tolerable adsorption characteristics with a maximum removal present exceeding 70% after reuse for seven successive cycles, proposing its feasible applicability as a reusable and easy-separable candidate for removing heavy metals from aquatic bodies.

Sequestration of Pb(II) using channel-like porous spheres of carboxylated graphene oxide-incorporated cellulose acetate@iminodiacetic acid: optimization and mechanism study.

The adsorption property of the costless green cellulose acetate (CA) was boosted by the dual modifications: inner modification by incorporating carboxylated graphene oxide (COOH-GO) into the CA spheres and outer modification by the surface modification of the COOH-GO@CA spheres by iminodiacetic acid (IDA) for removing Pb(II). The adsorption experiments of the Pb(II) proceeded in a batch mode to evaluate the adsorption property of the COOH-GO@CA@IDA spheres. The maximal Pb(II) adsorption capacity attained 613.30 mg/g within 90 min at pH = 5. The removal of Pb(II) reached its equilibrium within 20 min, and the removal % was almost 100% after 30 min at the low Pb(II) concentration. The Pb(II) adsorption mechanism was proposed according to the kinetics and isotherms studies; in addition, the zeta potential (ZP) measurements and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis defined the adsorption pathways. By comparing the XPS spectra of the authentic and used COOH-GO@CA@IDA, it was deduced that the contributed chemical adsorption pathways are Lewis acid-base, precipitation, and complexation. The zeta potential (ZP) measurements demonstrated the electrostatic interaction participation in adsorbing the cationic Pb(II) species onto the negatively charged spheres (ZP = 14.2 mV at pH = 5). The unique channel-like pores of the COOH-GO@CA@IDA spheres suggested the pore-filling mechanism of Pb(II). The promising adsorption results and the superb recyclability character of COOH-GO@CA@IDA enable it to extend of the bench scale to the industrial scale.

Cellulose acetate nanofiber modified with polydopamine polymerized MOFs for efficient removal of noxious organic dyes.

The need to effectively remove toxic organic dyes from aquatic systems has become an increasingly critical issue in the recent years. In pursuit of this objective, polydopamine (PDA)-binary ZIF-8/UiO-66 (MOFs) was synthesized and incorporated into cellulose acetate (CA), producing ZIF-8/UiO-66/PDA@CA composite nanofibers under meticulously optimized conditions. The potential of fabricated nanofibers to remove cationic methylene blue (MB) dye was investigated. Various analysis tools including FTIR, XRD, SEM, zeta potential, BET, tensile strength testing, and XPS were employed. Results revealed a substantial leap in tensile strength, with ZIF-8/UiO-66/PDA@CA registering an impressive 2.8 MPa, as a marked improvement over the neat CA nanofibers (1.1 MPa). ZIF-8/UiO-66/PDA@CA nanofibers exhibit an outstanding adsorption capacity of 82 mg/g, notably outperforming the 22.4 mg/g capacity of neat CA nanofibers. In binary dye systems, these nanofibers exhibit a striking maximum adsorption capacity of 108 mg/g, establishing their eminence in addressing the complexities of wastewater treatment. Furthermore, the adsorption data fitted to the Langmuir isotherm, and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The fabricated nanofiber demonstrates good reproducibility and durability, consistently upholding its performance over five cycles. This suite of remarkable attributes collectively underscores its potential as a robust, durable, and highly promising solution for the effective and efficient removal of pernicious MB dye, in the context of both water quality improvement and environmental preservation.

Novel sulfonamide derivatives as multitarget antidiabetic agents: design, synthesis, and biological evaluation.

A series of new sulfonamide derivatives connected through an imine linker to five or seven membered heterocycles were designed and synthesized. All synthesized derivatives were characterized using a variety of spectroscopic methods, including IR, 1HNMR, and 13CNMR. In vitro α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition activities, as well as glucose uptake were assessed for each of the synthesized compounds. Four sulfonamide derivatives namely 3a, 3b, 3h and 6 showed excellent inhibitory potential against α-glucosidase with IC50 values of 19.39, 25.12, 25.57 and 22.02 µM, respectively. They were 1.05- to 1.39-fold more potent than acarbose. Sulfonamide derivatives 3g, 3i and 7 (EC50 values of 1.29, 21.38 and 19.03 µM, respectively) exhibited significant glucose uptake activity that were 1.62- to 27-fold more potent than berberine. Both α-glucosidase protein (PDB: 2QMJ) and α-amylase (PDB: 1XCW) complexed with acarbose were adopted for docking investigations for the most active synthesized compounds. The docked compounds were able to inhabit the same space as the acarviosin ring of acarbose. The docking of the most active compounds showed an analogous binding with the active site of α-glucosidase as acarbose. The superior activity of the synthesized compounds against α-glucosidase enzyme than α-amylase enzyme can be rationalized by the weak interaction with the α-amylase. The physiochemical parameters of all synthesized compounds were aligned with Lipinski's rule of five.

Development of novel amino-ethyl chitosan hydrogel for the removal of methyl orange azo dye model.

The present study introduces a new and straightforward method for the amination of Chitosan. This method involves coupling Chitosan (CS) with 2-chloroethylamine (ENH2) in a single step to produce an amino-ethyl Chitosan derivatives with increased amine group content (CS-ENH2) using click chemistry. The resulting derivatives were then crosslinked using Glutaraldehyde to form amino-ethyl Chitosan Schiff bases. The novel amino-ethyl Chitosan Schiff bases were subsequently utilized as adsorbents for the removal of Methyl Orange (MO) dye from aqueous solutions using a batch technique, and the performance of the produced Schiff bases was compared with that of the native Chitosan Schiff base. The CS-ENH2 adsorbents show improved adsorption capacity up to 300% of the native Chitosan Schiff base with almost double removal rate. The adsorption temperature has a positive impact in general while almost 100% of MO removed at 60 °C using CS-ENH2 adsorbents compared with 66% of the native Chitosan Schiff base adsorbent. The adsorption pH shows a negative impact on the MO removal percent. That effect reduced sharply using the CS-ENH2 adsorbents with higher amination degree while the MO removal percent almost being constant over a wide range of pH; 2.0-7.0. The agitation speed has the same positive effect over all the adsorbents. However, the rate of MO removal percent decreased with increase the agitation speed up to 250 rpm. The experimental findings demonstrated that the highest percentage of MO dye removal was achieved under the conditions of pH 2.0, a temperature of 60 °C, agitation speed of 250 rpm, and adsorption duration of 90 min. These Schiff bases were subsequently characterized using advanced analytical techniques including Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Thermal analysis (TGA and DSC), and Scanning Electron Microscopy.

Emerging novel sequence types of Staphylococcus aureus in Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Despite an increasing incidence of Staphylococcus aureus infection and dissemination in Pakistan, the epidemiology of different Staphylococcus aureus research clones has been the subject of only a small number of investigations. By analyzing the collected data sequence, this study was designed to study the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus in the area using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). METHODS: A total of 1015 staphylococcus strains collected from the city's tertiary care facilities were biochemically screened, followed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing against a panel of 13 antibiotics. Analyzed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was subjected to molecular characterization using multilocus sequence typing (MLST), clonal complex analysis, recombination testing, and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: Approximately 421 bacteria were verified as Staphylococcus aureus by biochemical analysis. 57% of the isolates exhibited multidrug resistance, of which 89% were found to be methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MLST results in a total of 39 sequence types (ST) and 5 clonal complexes (CC), out of which twenty-two STs were newly documented worldwide. The most common CC identified was CC8. The direct sequencing data also revealed significant shifts at MLST loci, with point mutations resulting in the aroE-343 and tpi-278 alleles. CONCLUSIONS: This study concludes that there is high diversity in the locally circulating clones of Staphylococcus aureus present in nature and that they are defined by their geographic epidemiology. These findings have practical implications for public health, including the need for tailored infection control strategies, antibiotic stewardship, global surveillance, and a deeper understanding of bacterial evolution.

Developing a new multi-featured chitosan-quinoline Schiff base with potent antibacterial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities: design and molecular modeling simulation.

A new chitosan Schiff base was developed via the reaction of chitosan (CH) with 2-chloro-3-formyl-7-ethoxy quinoline (Q) derivative. The alteration in the chemical structure and morphology of CHQ derivative was confirmed by 1H NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy and SEM analysis. The antibacterial activity was considerably promoted with increasing quinoline concentration up to 1 M with maximal inhibition reached 96 and 77% against Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Escherichia coli, respectively. Additionally, CHQ derivative afforded higher ABTS·+ radical scavenging activity reached 59% compared to 13% for native chitosan, approving its acceptable antioxidant activity. Moreover, the developed CHQ derivative can stimulate the glucose uptake in HepG-2 and yeast cells, while better inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase was accomplished with maximum values of 99.78 and 92.10%, respectively. Furthermore, the molecular docking simulation clarified the binding mode of CHQ derivative inside the active site of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, suggesting its potential use as diabetes mellitus drug. The DFT calculations indicated an improvement in the electronic properties of CHQ with a lower energy band gap reached 4.05eV compared to 5.94eV for CH. The cytotoxicity assay revealed the safety of CHQ towards normal HSF cells, hypothesizing its possible application as non-toxic antibacterial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic agent for biomedical applications.

The Bending Properties of Hybrid Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Using Various Species Combinations.

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) has become a massive commercial success in recent years due to its high performance, technological advantages, and low environmental impact. The finite softwood raw material supply has motivated researchers to find alternatives. This study presents an investigation of the viability of some Hungarian hardwood materials, such as CLT materials. Homogeneous beech, poplar, and spruce panels, as well as their combinations, were created using a polyurethane adhesive. The experimental results show the clear potential of Hungarian poplar, which performed much better than spruce. Poplar's modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) values reached or exceeded those of high-grade commercial softwood CLT. The bending properties of beech and hybrid beech-poplar panels far exceeded the performance of commercial panels, which shows the excellent potential of high-density hardwoods for high-performance CLT production. Beech-spruce hybrid panels seriously underperformed. This was caused by gluing issues, probably due to the large density differences between the two species, as evidenced by the glueline failure exhibited by most of these specimens during testing. The average panel density proved to be the best predictor of mechanical performance, except for beech-spruce hybrid panels.

Fabrication of Antibacterial and Antioxidant ZnO-Impregnated Amine-Functionalized Chitosan Bio-Nanocomposite Membrane for Advanced Biomedical Applications.

Developing a variety of safe and effective functioning wound dressings is a never-ending objective. Due to their exceptional antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and healing-promoting properties, functionalized chitosan nanocomposites have attracted considerable attention in wound dressing applications. Herein, a novel bio-nanocomposite membrane with a variety of bio-characteristics was created through the incorporation of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) into amine-functionalized chitosan membrane (Am-CS). The developed ZnO@Am-CS bio-nanocomposite membrane was characterized by various analysis tools. Compared to pristine Am-CS, the developed ZnO@Am-CS membrane revealed higher water uptake and adequate mechanical properties. Moreover, increasing the ZnONP content from 0.025 to 0.1% had a positive impact on antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A maximum inhibition of 89.4% was recorded against Escherichia coli, with a maximum inhibition zone of 38 ± 0.17 mm, and was achieved by the ZnO (0.1%)@Am-CS membrane compared to 72.5% and 28 ± 0.23 mm achieved by the native Am-CS membrane. Furthermore, the bio-nanocomposite membrane demonstrated acceptable antioxidant activity, with a maximum radical scavenging value of 46%. In addition, the bio-nanocomposite membrane showed better biocompatibility and reliable biodegradability, while the cytotoxicity assessment emphasized its safety towards normal cells, with the cell viability reaching 95.7%, suggesting its potential use for advanced wound dressing applications.

Graphene oxide@Fe3O4-decorated iota-carrageenan composite for ultra-fast and highly efficient adsorption of lead (II) from water.

The aggravated problem of lead pollution, especially in aquatic environments, necessitates the development of eminent adsorbents that could radically solve this environmental problem. Hence, a new composite was constructed based on iota carrageenan (i.Carr), graphene oxide (GO) and magnetite (Fe3O4) for removing noxious Pb2+ ions. The GO@Fe3O4-i.Carr composite was characterized by VSM, SEM, XPS, XRD, FTIR and Zeta potential. The removal of Pb2+ ions attained a quick equilibrium of almost 30 min with a removal efficiency reaching 93.68 %. The removal of Pb2+ was boosted significantly, in the order of GO@Fe3O4-i.Carr(1:1) > GO@Fe3O4-i.Carr(1:3) > GO@Fe3O4-i.Carr(3:1). Moreover, acquired experimental data fitted the pseudo 2nd order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm model with a maximal monolayer adsorption capacity reached 440.05 mg/g. Notably, after five adsorption runs, the composite maintained its removal efficiency exceeding 74 %. The assumed adsorption mechanisms of Pb2+ onto GO@Fe3O4-i.Carr were complexation, precipitation, Lewis acid-base, and electrostatic attraction forces. Overall, the GO@Fe3O4-i.Carr composite elucidated the auspicious adsorbent criteria, comprising fast adsorption with high performance, ease-separation and tolerable recyclability, advising its feasible use to decontaminate water bodies from hazardous heavy metals.

Recent Advances in Bimetallic Catalysts for Methane Steam Reforming in Hydrogen Production: Current Trends, Challenges, and Future Prospects.

As energy demand continues to rise and the global population steadily grows, there is a growing interest in exploring alternative, clean, and renewable energy sources. The search for alternatives, such as green hydrogen, as both a fuel and an industrial feedstock, is intensifying. Methane steam reforming (MSR) has long been considered a primary method for hydrogen production, despite its numerous advantages, the activity and stability of the conventional Ni catalysts are major concerns due to carbon formation and metal sintering at high temperatures, posing significant drawbacks to the process. In recent years, significant attention has been given to bimetallic catalysts as a potential solution to overcome the challenges associated with methane steam reforming. Thus, this review focuses on the recent advancements in bimetallic catalysts for hydrogen production through methane steam reforming. The review explores various aspects including reactor type, catalyst selection, and the impact of different operating parameters such as reaction temperature, pressure, feed composition, reactor configuration, and feed and sweep gas flow rates. The analysis and discussion revolve around key performance indicators such as methane conversion, hydrogen recovery, and hydrogen yield.

Inflammatory markers and COVID-19 disease progression.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global humanitarian crisis. Despite ongoing research, transmission risks and many disease characteristics remained unclear. Most patients have displayed elevated levels of certain inflammatory markers, which we sought to investigate further in relation to disease severity. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between inflammatory markers and the severity of COVID-19 among patients. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study from April to September 2020, involving 143 COVID-19 PCR-positive patients from Ziauddin Hospital. Electronic patient records provided data on demographics, clinical status, and laboratory results. RESULTS: The majority of PCR-positive patients were elderly males with comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension. Almost all patients exhibited increased levels of various inflammatory markers, with procalcitonin (97.2%) being the most common. Statistically significant differences were observed in the levels of TLC (p = 0.005), CRP (p = 0.001), LDH (p = 0.001), Ferritin (p = 0.001), D-dimer (p = 0.001), and procalcitonin (p = 0.028), in relation to COVID-19 severity. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest a significant association between levels of inflammatory markers and COVID-19 severity. All markers, except procalcitonin, demonstrated a significant correlation with disease severity. These results could enhance our understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis and help predict and manage severe cases.