Health-care-seeking behaviour in patients with hypertension: experience from a dedicated hypertension centre in Bangladesh.

Objective: The study aimed to assess health-seeking behaviour (HSB) and associated factors among hypertensive patients in Bangladesh.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Hypertension & Research Centre, Rangpur, Bangladesh, between January 2022 and June 2022. A total of 497 hypertensive adults were recruited consecutively. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was deployed by the research team for data collection. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to explore the predictors of HSB.Results: The mean age of the hypertensive patients was 52 ± 11 (SD) years. Most of them were aged between 51 and 60 years (33%), female (55%), came from rural areas (57%), and belonged to middle socioeconomic class (68%). One-fourth of the patients (27%) had chosen informal healthcare providers for their first consultation. Fear of stroke (244, 45%), headache (170, 36%), and neck pain (81, 17%) were the three most common compelling causes of their visit to the hypertension centre. Age (aOR 0.78, 95% CI 0.68 - 0.89), male sex (aOR: 1.79, 95% CI 1.05 - 3.10), living in semi-urban (aOR 4.68, 95% CI 1.45 - 15.10) and rural area (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.01 - 2.80), farmers as occupation (aOR: 3.24, 95%CI: 1.31 - 8.06) and belonging to lower social economic class (aOR 4.24, 95% CI 1.68 - 10.69) were predictors of visiting informal providers of hypertensive patient. One-fourth of the hypertensive patients received consultation from informal healthcare providers.Conclusions: Raising awareness among patients and proper referral to specialised hypertension centres could promulgate the patients towards appropriate behaviour.

Socio-demographic predictors of obesity among 12,975 adult ever married Egyptian women of reproductive age group: evidence from nationwide survey.

AIM: We aimed to explore the predictors associated with obesity among adult ever-married Egyptian women aged 20-49 years based on the Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). METHOD: We included adult ever married women from the EDHS conducted in 2014 that initially recruited 21,903 women. Univariate and multivariable analysis was conducted to identify socio-demographic predictors of women's obesity. RESULT: We included 12,975 Egyptian women. Among them, 76% of the total respondents were obese where as 24% were with normal body mass index (BMI). In multivariable analysis, the results revealed that increasing age, higher wealth index, listening to radio at least once a week and women with primary and secondary education were at significant odds of developing obesity (p < 0.05). However, we found no association between residence of participants and the frequency of watching television upon the development of obesity (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Appropriate and targeted interventions should be implemented among the Egyptian reproductive age women to reduce the obesity as well as non-communicable diseases load associated with obesity. National Health Service policy makers should take multilevel approach targeting high risk sub-groups to raise awareness and to provide prevention against obesity and the subsequent complications.

Association of dengue disease severity and blood group: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Dengue disease encompasses various clinical manifestations including dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). In this article, we aimed to systematically review and analyze the association between different blood groups and severity of dengue. We searched nine databases for eligible papers reporting prevalence, distribution, and frequency of blood group type among dengue patients. Network meta-analysis using R software was used to analyze the data. Of a total of 63 reports screened, we included 10 studies with total sample size 1977 patients (1382 DF and 595 DHF). Blood group O was found to have the worst outcome with the highest risk of developing DF (P-score = 0.01) followed by group B (P-score = 0.34), group A (P-score = 0.64), and group AB (P-score = 1), respectively. Blood group O also had the worst outcome with highest risk of developing DHF (P-score = 0.1) followed by group B (P-score = 0.29), group A (P-score = 0.61), and group AB (P-score = 1), respectively. There was a significant increase (P-value <.001) in the overall odds risk of dengue infection among patients with Rhesus-positive blood groups [OR = 540.03; (95% CI = 151.48-1925.18)]. However, there was no significant difference in the odds risk of DF when compared to DHF according to Rhesus status (P-value = .954). This study identified the O blood group as a potential risk factor in predicting clinical severity in dengue patients which may be helpful in evaluating patients for their likely need for critical care.

Complete genome sequence of a potential foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype O vaccine strain from Bangladesh.

One of the six sublineages of the dominant O/ME-SA/Ind2001 lineage of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), Ind2001BD1 has already spread throughout 14 countries, including Bangladesh. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the potential serotype O vaccine strain BAN/TA/Dh-301/2016, which has been shown to provide protection against all the circulating serotype O viruses in Bangladesh. The viral genome is 8,211 nucleotide (nt) long with an open reading frame (ORF) of 6999 nt. The ORF is flanked by a 1098-nt-long 5'-UTR and a 114-nt-long 3'-UTR. Compared to the Indian FMDV serotype O vaccine strain O/India/R2/75 (AF204276), ten mutations were identified in the major antigenic sites of BAN/TA/Dh-301/2016 (MK088170.1).

Sensitivity Enhancement of Modified D-Shaped Microchannel PCF-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor.

In this work, a highly sensitive dual-core configured microchannel-based plasmonic refractive index (RI) sensor was investigated, which can be used for low RI detection. Both the sensing layer and the plasmonic material layer were built outside of the fiber design to detect the surrounding medium's RI changes. Additionally, the effects of different plasmonic materials gold (Au), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu) toward sensitivity were investigated for the same structure. An adhesive agent was used in this work, titanium dioxide (TiO2), and was coated on top of the plasmonic material to prevent the oxidation of Ag and Cu. The coupling strength between the fundamental mode and the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) mode was observed to be very strong due to the TiO2 adhesive agent. With a resolution of 7.41 × 10-7 RIU, maximum wavelength sensitivity (WS) of 135,000 nm/RIU and amplitude sensitivity (AS) of 3239 RIU-1 were achieved using the proposed sensor while using Au as a plasmonic material for an analyte RI range of 1.29-1.39. A detailed study of relevant literature revealed that the achieved wavelength sensitivity for plasmonic material gold (Au) is the highest among reported photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors to date.

Potential of a fly gut microbiota incorporated gel-based larval diet for rearing Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel).

BACKGROUND: The Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an important polyphagous pest of horticultural produce. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is a proven control method against many insect pests, including fruit flies, under area-wide pest management programs. High quality mass-rearing process and the cost-effective production of sterile target species are important for SIT. Irradiation is reported to cause severe damage to the symbiotic community structure in the mid gut of fruit fly species, impairing SIT success. However, studies have found that target-specific manipulation of insect gut bacteria can positively impact the overall fitness of SIT-specific insects. RESULTS: Twelve bacterial genera were isolated and identified from B. dorsalis eggs, third instars larval gut and adults gut. The bacterial genera were Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Citrobacter, Pseudomonas, Proteus, and Stenotrophomonas, belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Larval diet enrichment with the selected bacterial isolate, Proteus sp. was found to improve adult emergence, percentage of male, and survival under stress. However, no significant changes were recorded in B. dorsalis egg hatching, pupal yield, pupal weight, duration of the larval stage, or flight ability. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis that gut bacterial isolates can be used in conjunction with SIT. The newly developed gel-based larval diet incorporated with Proteus sp. isolates can be used for large-scale mass rearing of B. dorsalis in the SIT program.

A Bimetallic-Coated, Low Propagation Loss, Photonic Crystal Fiber Based Plasmonic Refractive Index Sensor.

In this paper, a low-loss, spiral lattice photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-based plasmonic biosensor is proposed for its application in detecting various biomolecules (i.e., sugar, protein, DNA, and mRNA) and biochemicals (i.e., serum and urine). Plasmonic material gold (Au) is employed externally to efficiently generate surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the outer surface of the PCF. A thin layer of titanium oxide (TiO2) is also introduced, which assists in adhering the Au layer to the silica fiber. The sensing performance is investigated using a mode solver based on the finite element method (FEM). Simulation results show a maximum wavelength sensitivity of 23,000 nm/RIU for a bio-samples refractive index (RI) detection range of 1.32-1.40. This sensor also exhibits a very low confinement loss of 0.22 and 2.87 dB/cm for the analyte at 1.32 and 1.40 RI, respectively. Because of the ultra-low propagation loss, the proposed sensor can be fabricated within several centimeters, which reduces the complexity related to splicing, and so on.

Effect of core material draft ratio and denier on core spun yarn and denim fabric properties pre and post washing.

Core-spun yarn (CSY) is utilized for better fabric characteristics like stretchability, durability, and comfortability. The study aims to investigate the influence of spandex drafts of core-spun yarn on denim fabric characteristics before and after washing treatment. Two types of denim fabrics were produced from two types of core-spun yarn, namely 16 + 40D, and 16 + 70D by applying 2.8, 3.0, 3.20 spandex drafts for 16 + 40D, and 3.40, 3.50, 3.60 spandex drafts for 16 + 70D. Prepared denim fabrics were desized, and acid-washed and the properties of denim fabric before and after washing were investigated as a function of spandex drafts and deniers. Accurate count, twist, and better elongation percentage were observed at 2.80 draft for 16 + 40D CSY and 3.4 draft for 16 + 70D CSY, but a higher imperfection index (IPI) value was obtained on those drafts. The strength of the denim fabric prepared with 16 + 40D CSY and 16 + 70D CSY were higher at 2.8 and 3.6 drafts, respectively. Higher shrinkage (%), ends per inch (EPI), and fabric weight of denim fabric was obtained after washing compared to before washing. The width of both fabrics decreased when the fabric was washed. Exploring various drafts of core material and their correlations with yarn and fabric properties provides valuable insights for textile manufacturers seeking to produce denim fabrics with optimum quality.

BananaSet: A dataset of banana varieties in Bangladesh.

This article introduces a primary dataset sourced from diverse marketplaces in Bangladesh, encompassing six distinct banana varieties predominantly consumed locally. The dataset comprises the following banana types: Shagor, Shabri, Champa, Anaji, Deshi, and Bichi. High-resolution images of bananas from each category were acquired using a smartphone camera. A total of 1166 images were captured but did not maintain a uniform distribution. Only the augmented data has 1000 images per category which is a total of 6000 images. The proposed dataset exhibits substantial potential for impact and utility, offering a range of attributes, including but not limited to the representation of six diverse banana varieties, each possessing unique flavors and holding promise for various applications within the agriculture and food manufacturing industries.

Prevalence and predictors of musculoskeletal injuries among gym members in Bangladesh: A nationwide cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Participating in physical exercise is advantageous for maintaining optimum health, improving physical capacity, decreasing the likelihood of chronic diseases, and promoting overall wellbeing. AIM: This study aimed to find out the prevalence and factors that contribute to musculoskeletal injuries among individuals who participated in fitness activities at the gym. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1123 gym members, both male and female, aged between 18 and 50 years, from selected fitness centers in Bangladesh. Musculoskeletal injuries were assessed using the Nordic musculoskeletal disorder questionnaire. Binary logistic regression identified the gym members' predictors of musculoskeletal injuries. RESULTS: The highest prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries at the low back (36.6%) was seen among the eight body sites, followed by the shoulder (24.7%) and knee (17.1%). Males (aOR 2.589, CI 1.18 to 5.65) and those who go to the gym to lose weight (aOR 3.859, CI 0.91 to 16.33) and for physical fitness (aOR 1.895, CI 1.07 to 3.35) had a greater risk of musculoskeletal injury. Participants who carried out strength training exercises (aOR 4.10, CI 2.74 to 6.19) had a four-fold increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries than those who did not. Furthermore, higher adjusted odds of musculoskeletal injuries were found for the potential causes of injuries in incorrect holding (aOR 1.69, CI 1.10 to 2.60), overweight lifting (aOR 2.00, CI 1.30 to 3.08), lack of workout knowledge (aOR 3.56, CI 2.09 to 5.85), and insufficient information from the trainer (aOR 5.66, CI 1.84 to 17.39). CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal injuries are highly prevalent among gym-goers in Bangladesh. The back was the most often injured area, followed by the shoulder and knee. It is important to exhibit caution and take extra care while doing strength training activities in order to avoid injury. Prior to engaging in gym-based activities, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of proper exercise knowledge.

Source-specific geochemical and health risk assessment of anthropogenically induced metals in a tropical urban waterway.

Thorough deliberation is necessary to safeguard the tropical urban streams near the shoreline from human interference, as it is becoming a notable environmental danger. Consequently, an in-depth study was carried out on a significant urban waterway located on the southern seashore of Bangladesh, which is positioned in the Bengal delta, renowned as the largest delta in the globe. The current investigation assesses the potential health hazards associated with trace metals (Hg, Cu, As, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cd, Cr, Fe, and Mn) and uses chemometric analysis to determine where they originate. Likewise geochemical methods are used to analyze the levels of trace metal enrichment and pollution in the sediments of the river. Almost all of the elements' mean concentrations were observed to be within the standard limits. The findings not only demonstrate the extent of trace metal contamination but also the health threats that it poses to the public (male, female, and children) by polluting the sediment. For all age groups of people, the hazard index was <1, suggesting there was no non-carcinogenic threat. Regardless of age and sex, exposure occurred in descending order: ingestion > dermal > inhalation. Total carcinogenic risk (TCR) values for males, females, and children were 1.45E-05, 1.56E-05, and 1.34E-04, respectively, recommending that children are at greater vulnerability than adults. The geochemical approach and chemometric analysis corroborate the human-induced impact of trace metal loading in the sediment of the waterway, which is predominantly caused by the oil industry, domestic garbage, and untreated waste discharge.

In-silico approach to characterize the structure and function of a hypothetical protein of Monkeypox virus exploring Chordopox-A20R domain-containing protein activity.

Background: Monkeypox has emerged as a noteworthy worldwide issue due to its daily escalating case count. This illness presents diverse symptoms, including skin manifestations, which have the potential to spread through contact. The transmission of this infectious agent is intricate and readily transfers between individuals.Methods: The hypothetical protein MPXV-SI-2022V502225_00135 strain of monkeypox underwent structural and functional analysis using NCBI-CD Search, Pfam, and InterProScan. Quality assessment utilized PROCHECK, QMEAN, Verify3D, and ERRAT, followed by protein-ligand docking, visualization, and a 100-nanosecond simulation on Schrodinger Maestro.Results: Different physicochemical properties were estimated, indicating a stable molecular weight (49147.14) and theoretical pI (5.62) with functional annotation tools predicting the target protein to contain the domain of Chordopox_A20R domain. In secondary structure analysis, the helix coil was found to be predominant. The three-dimensional (3D) structure of the protein was obtained using a template protein (PDB ID: 6zyc.1), which became more stable after YASARA energy minimization and was validated by quality assessment tools like PROCHECK, QMEAN, Verify3D, and ERRAT. Protein-ligand docking was conducted using PyRx 9.0 software to examine the binding and interactions between a ligand and a hypothetical protein, focusing on various amino acids. The model structure, active site, and binding site were visualized using the CASTp server, FTsite, and PyMOL. A 100 nanosecond simulation was performed with ligand CID_16124688 to evaluate the efficiency of this protein.Conclusion: The analysis revealed significant binding interactions and enhanced stability, aiding in drug or vaccine design for effective antiviral treatment and patient management.

Characterization of multidrug and heavy metal resistance of carbapenemases producing Klebsiella pneumoniae from poultry samples in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Resistance to multiple drugs in Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPN) is an important issue in human and animal medicine. KPN phenotypic and genotypic aspects in poultry samples have not been comprehensively explored in Bangladesh. METHODS: This research focused on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the characterization of KPN in Bangladeshi poultry isolates using both phenotypic and genotypic approaches. RESULTS: A total of 32 poultry samples were randomly obtained from a commercial poultry farm in Narsingdi, Bangladesh, and 43.90% (18/41) of the isolates were confirmed to be KPN, whereas all isolates were biofilm producers. The antibiotic sensitivity test revealed the most remarkable (100%) antibiotic resistance level against Ampicillin, Doxycycline and Tetracycline while remaining susceptible to Doripenem, Meropenem, Cefoxitin and Polymyxin B. Resistance to Nalidixic acid, Nitrofurantoin, Trimethoprim, Levofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Cefuroxime and Chloramphenicol ranges from 18% to 70%. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for carbapenem-resistant KPN ranged from 128 to 512 mg/mL for Meropenem, Imipenem, Gentamycin and Ciprofloxacin, respectively. [Correction added on 15 June 2023, after first online publication: 512 g/mL was corrected to 512 mg/mL in the preceding sentence]. Carbapenemase-producing KPN isolates harboured a single or multiple ß-lactamase genes, blaSIM-1 , blaIMP-4 and blaOXA-48 as well as one ESBL gene (blaTEM ) and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance gene (qnrB). Furthermore, Cr and Co outperformed Cu and Zn in antibacterial effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this investigation showed that the high prevalence of multidrug-resistant pathogenic KPN in our chosen geographic location had displayed sensitivity to FOX/PB/Cr/Co, which might be regarded as an alternate treatment to reduce pressure of use on carbapenems.

Effect of supplementary feeding on the production traits, carcass and meat quality of Jamuna basin lambs.

This study aimed to identify the optimum level of supplementary feeds on the carcass traits and meat quality of Jamuna basin lambs. Forty selected lambs were divided into four treatments such as T0 (no concentrate supplementation), T1 (1% concentrate feed), T2 (1.5% concentrate feed) and T3 (2% concentrate feed) having ten lambs per treatment. The data were analyzed through Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with SAS software. Hot carcass, dressing percentage, head, leg, neck, loin, heart, and spleen weight were showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher values with increasing concentrate feed. The crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and ash values were significantly increased (p < 0.001) except T2 treatment. The ultimate pH was significantly increased except T2 and cooked pH was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) except T3 treatment. Drip loss and cooking loss (CL) % had significantly reduced (p < 0.001) except T3 treatment. The water holding capacity (WHC) % was significantly increased (p < 0.001) except T3 treatment. The score of color, juiciness and tenderness were significantly different (p < 0.001). Flavor and overall acceptability score were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in different treatments. The color values L* and b* had significantly changed (p < 0.001) and a* value was found significantly higher (p < 0.05) in all treatments. Hence, 12 months of aged lambs with 1.5% concentrate feed showed better performances on carcass, nutritional, physicochemical, sensory and instrumental color values to increase the carcass and the meat quality of lambs.

Sediment-bound hazardous trace metals(oid) in south-eastern drainage system of Bangladesh: First assessment on human health.

Despite the beneficial aspect of a natural drainage system, increasing human-induced activities, which include urbanization and growth in industrialization, degrade the ecosystem in terms of trace metal contamination. In response, given the great importance of the south-eastern drainage system in Bangladesh, a detailed evaluation of the human health risk as well as the potential ecological risk of trace metals (Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, V, Zn, and As) in Karnaphuli riverbed sediment was conducted. Mean levels of the elements in mg/kg were As (5.62 ± 1.47); Se (0.84 ± 0.61); Hg (0.37 ± 0.23); Be (1.17 ± 0.49); Pb (15.62 ± 8.42); Cd (0.24 ± 0.33); Co (11.59 ± 4.49); Cr (112.75 ± 40.09); Cu (192.67 ± 49.71); V (27.49 ± 10.95); Zn (366.83 ± 62.82); Ni (75.83 ± 25.87). Pollution indicators, specifically contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), degree of contamination (Cd), enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), and potential ecological risk index (RI), were computed to assess sediment quality. For the first observation of health risk, chronic daily intake (CDI), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), carcinogenic risk (CR) and total carcinogenic risk (TCR) indices were calculated. According to the results, CDI values through the ingestion route of both the adult and child groups were organized in the following descending mode respectively: Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > V > Pb > Co > As > Se > Be > Cd > Hg. The non-carcinogenic risks were generally low for all routes of exposure, except HQingestion was slightly higher for both adults and children. The calculated hazard index (HI) was, nevertheless, within the permitted range (HI < 1). Similarly, none of the metals exhibited any carcinogenic risks, as all CR values were within the 10-4-10-6 range. The need for authoritative efforts and water policy for the sake of the surrounding ecosystem and human health in the vicinity of the examined watershed is strongly felt as an outcome of this study. The purpose of this study is to protect public health by identifying trace metal sources and reducing industrial and domestic discharge into this natural drainage system.

Effects of spirulina as a functional ingredient in arsenic-induced broiler diet on growth performance and hematobiochemical parameters.

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to look into the impacts after the implication of feeding broiler chickens with spirulina in arsenic-incited toxicities. Materials and Methods: Birds (n = 125) were distributed equally (n = 25) into four groups treated (T 1, T 2, T 3, T 4) and a group controlled, T 0 (normal feed and water without supplement), the group taking in arsenic trioxide (100 mg/l)-induced diet (T 1), and the groups T 2, T 3, and T 4 (feed supplemented with 50, 100, and 200 mg/l of spirulina along with Arsenic Trioxide, respectively). The body weight and hematobiochemical parameters were recorded every 7 days. Results: Different growth development indicators, e.g., body weight, feed intake ratio, feed conversion ratio, depression, and skin lesions, were weak in arsenic trioxide groups and upstanding in the arsenic plus spirulina group. Over and above, the lack of body weight gain in chicken (2.7%-13.00%) in the arsenic-introduced groups given spirulina (T 2, T 3, and T 4) overtook the mere groups exposed to arsenic, where the lack of weight gain was optimum (54.90%). Thereafter, in arsenic-instituted groups given spirulina (T 2, T 3, and T 4), the drop in total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, hemoglobin, and packed cell volume values became less notable than in arsenic pollutant groups (T 1, p < 0.01). Two measurable factors (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase) were substantially (p < 0.01) raised in the group (T 1) treated with arsenic, but in the arsenic-induced groups (T 2, T 3, and T 4) treated with spirulina, they were elevated less. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that arsenic is a threat to poultry. However, spirulina may be advantageous for alleviating the effects of arsenic in poultry.

Changes in viable bacterial counts and physicochemical parameters of water used during live transportation of Pangasius catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) in Bangladesh.

Objective: The study was undertaken to assess the changes in viable bacterial counts and physicochemical parameters of water used during the live transportation of Pangasius catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). The correlations between the changing patterns of these parameters were also established. Materials and Methods: Water samples were collected every 2 h interval, plated onto agar plates for assesing viable bacterial counts. Physicochemical parameters, namely, water temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and ammonia (NH3) concentration in the water were measured with a glass thermometer, DO test kit, pH test kit, and total NH3 measurement kit, respectively. Results: The viable bacterial counts increased significantly from 0 to 2 h in all the studied channels and remained almost similar up to the end of the supply channels. The water temperature was almost stable regardless of the supply channels and transportation period at around 30°C. The DO concentration and pH level decreased, and NH3 concentrations increased gradually in all the supply channels. The viable bacterial counts were inversely correlated to the DO levels and directly associated with the NH3 concentrations of the water used during the live transportation of Pangasius catfish. Conclusions: Gradual increase in viable bacterial counts and fluctuation in some vital physicochemical parameters with the duration of transportation indicated an unfavorable environment for the survival of Pangasius catfish.

Improving the optical and thermoelectric properties of Cs2InAgCl6 with heavy substitutional doping: a DFT insight.

The next-generation indium-based lead-free halide material Cs2InAgCl6 is promising for photovoltaic applications due to its good air stability and non-toxic behavior. However, its wide bandgap (>3 eV) is not suitable for the solar spectrum and hence reduces its photoelectronic efficiency for device applications. Here we report a significant bandgap reduction from 2.85 eV to 0.65 eV via substitutional doping and its effects on the optoelectronic and opto-thermoelectric properties from a first-principles study. The results predict that Sn/Pb and Ga and Cu co-doping will enhance the density of states significantly near the valence band maximum (VBM) and thus reduce the bandgap via shifting the VBM upward, while alkali metals (K/Rb) slightly increase the bandgap. A strong absorption peak near the Shockley-Queisser limit is observed in the co-doped case, while in the Sn/Pb-doped case, we notice a peak in the middle of the visible region of the solar spectrum. The nature of the bandgap is indirect with Cu-Ga/Pb/Sn doping, and a significant reduction in the bandgap, from 2.85 eV to 0.65 eV, is observed in the case of Ga-Cu co-doping. We observe a significant increase in the power factor (PF) (2.03 mW m-1 K-2) for the n-type carrier after Pb-doping, which is ∼3.5 times higher than in the pristine case (0.6 mW m -1 K-2) at 500 K.

Metal triflate formation of C12-C22 phenolic compounds by the simultaneous C-O breaking and C-C coupling of benzyl phenyl ether.

Catalytic pathways to produce high carbon number compounds from benzyl phenyl ether require multiple steps to break the aryl etheric carbon-oxygen bonds; these steps are followed by energy-intensive processes to remove oxygen atoms and/or carbon-carbon coupling. Here, we show an upgrading strategy to transform benzyl phenyl ether into large phenolic (C12-C22) compounds by a one-step C-O breaking and C-C coupling catalyzed by metal triflates under a mild condition (100 °C and 1 bar). Hafnium triflate was the most selective for the desired products. In addition, we measured the effect of solvent polarity on the catalytic performance. Solvents with a polarity index of less than 3.4 promoted the catalytic activity and selectivity to C12-C22 phenolic products. These C12-C22 phenolic compounds have potential applications for phenol-formaldehyde polymers, diesel/jet fuels, and liquid organic hydrogen carriers.

Emergence of European and North American mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2 in South-East Asia.

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic, with an ongoing toll of over 5 million infections and 333 thousand deaths worldwide within the first 5 months. Insight into the phylodynamics and mutation variants of this virus is vital to understanding the nature of its spread in different climate conditions. The incidence rate of COVID-19 is increasing at an alarming pace within subtropical South-East Asian nations with high temperatures and humidity. To understand this spread, we analysed 444 genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 available on the GISAID platform from six South-East Asian countries. Multiple sequence alignments and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analyses were performed to analyse and characterize the non-synonymous (NS) mutant variants circulating in this region. Global mutation distribution analysis showed that the majority of the mutations found in this region are also prevalent in Europe and North America, and the concurrent presence of these mutations at a high frequency in other countries indicates possible transmission routes. Unique spike protein and non-structural protein mutations were observed circulating within confined area of a given country. We divided the circulating viral strains into four major groups and three subgroups on the basis of the most frequent NS mutations. Strains with a unique set of four co-evolving mutations were found to be circulating at a high frequency within India, specifically. Group 2 strains characterized by two co-evolving NS mutants which alter in RdRp (P323L) and spike (S) protein (D614G) were found to be common in Europe and North America. These European and North American variants have rapidly emerged as dominant strains within South-East Asia, increasing from a 0% prevalence in January to an 81% by May 2020. These variants may have an evolutionary advantage over their ancestral types and could present a large threat to South-East Asia for the coming winter.