BC6NA monolayer as an ideal anode material for high-performance sodium-ion batteries.

Selecting an appropriate anode material (AM) has been considered to be a crucial initial step in advancing high-performance batteries. Within this piece of research, we examine the suitability of the BC6NA monolayer (referred to as BC6NAML) as an AM by first-principles calculations. The BC6NAML exhibits metallic behavior consistently, even with varying concentrations of Na atoms, making it an ideal choice for battery usages. Our findings revealed that the theoretical storage capacity for Na-adhered BC6NAML was 406.36 mAhg-1, surpassing graphite, TiO2, BC6NA, and numerous other 2D materials. The BC6NAML also demonstrates a diffusion barrier of 0.39 eV and favorable diffusivity of Na-ions. Although the open-circuit voltage (OCV) of BC6NAML was temperate and lower compared to the OCV of other AMs like TiO2, our results suggested that it is possible to utilize BC6NAML as one of the encouraging host materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Consequently, this investigation into the potential anodic application of BC6NAML proves valuable for future experimental studies into sodium storage for SIBs.

Fertilizer management practices in potato cultivation: a baseline study for the introduction of GE potato in Bangladesh.

Genetically engineered (GE) crops have the potential to contribute to agricultural sustainability, food security, and nutritional enrichment. However, these crops cannot be released for commercial cultivation without undergoing environmental risk assessments (ERA), thus biosafety evaluation. ERA assessments are performed comparatively with their natural non-GE counterparts. As Bangladesh is progressing with GE potato research, the present study aims to collect baseline information on non-GE potato cultivation with an emphasis on current agronomic practices focusing on fertilizer management and farmers' knowledge base. The survey had three parts, including information on the farmers, information on potato cultivation practices, especially fertilizer use, and lastly, the farmer's view on GE potato. From 2020 to 2021, data were collected through interviews with experienced growers in four potato-growing regions, the Central and Mid-East, North-West, Mid-West, and South-East regions (n = 1757) of the country. The study revealed that farmers of all regions used more than the recommended amounts of fertilizer; for instance, 67.1% more nitrogen fertilizer was applied as an extra dose during potato cultivation in Munshiganj (Central and Mid-East) than in the Dinajpur region (North-West). This overuse of nitrogen fertilizer can enhance plant vigor but makes the plants more susceptible to insect attraction and allows pests easier access to the plants. As a result, the excess dose of nitrogen fertilizer in Munshiganj may act as a catalyst to increase the probability of late blight. The findings also showed that 73.6% of farmers observed unexpected flowering in certain potato cultivars, which corresponded to the higher application of phosphate and potassium fertilizers aimed at late blight control. Furthermore, this study reported infestations of Solanaceous weeds, specifically Solanum torvum and Physalis heterophylla, in potato fields. Finally, our findings demonstrated that more than 68.7% of the potato growers intend to adopt disease-resistant GE potato as that may reduce the need for excess fertilizer use and thus reduce cultivation costs.

Human and ecological risk assessments of potentially toxic elements in sediments around a pharmaceutical industry.

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in sediment can be highly hazardous to the environment and public health. This study aimed to assess the human and ecological risks of PTEs in sediments around a pharmaceutical industry in Ilorin, Nigeria. Physicochemical parameters and the concentrations of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), arsenic (As), and nickel (Ni) were analyzed in sediment samples collected from seven locations in the wet and dry seasons. Standard two-dimensional principal component analysis (PCA) and risk assessments were also conducted. The concentrations of Pb, Co, Ni, Cr, Cd, and As in the sediments ranged from 0.001 to 0.031 mg/kg, 0-0.005 mg/kg, 0.005-0.012 mg/kg, 0.001-0.014 mg/kg, 0.005-0.024 mg/kg, and 0.001-0.012 mg/kg, respectively. The mean concentrations of the total PTEs content were found in decreasing order of concentration: Pb > Cd > Ni > Cr > As > Co. PCA showed that some of the PTEs were highly concentrated in samples obtained at other locations as well as at the discharge point. The Hazard Index was mostly <1 across locations, indicating little to no probable non-cancerous effect. However, the incremental lifetime cancer risk for arsenic and nickel was high and required attention. The ecological risk assessment showed that lead and arsenic were the major PTEs pollutants in all locations. The study identifies PTEs profiles in sediments and emphasises the necessity of continual monitoring and action to stop long-term negative impacts on the local environment and public health.

Molybdenum-Oxysulfide-Functionalized MgAl-Layered Double Hydroxides─A Sorbent for Selenium Oxoanions.

Effective removal of chemically toxic selenium oxoanions at high-capacity and trace levels from contaminated water remains a challenge in current scientific pursuits. Here, we report the functionalization of the MgAl layered double hydroxide with molybdenum-oxysulfide (MoO2S2) anion, referred to as LDH-MoO2S2, and its potential to sequester SeVIO42- and SeIVO32- from aqueous solution. LDH-MoO2S2 nanosheets were synthesized by an ion exchange method in solution. Synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) revealed an unexpected transformation of the MoO2S22- to Mo2O2S62- like species during the intercalation process. LDH-MoO2S2 is remarkably efficient in removing SeO42- and SeO32- ions from the ppm to trace level (≤10 ppb), with distribution constant (Kd) ranging from 104 to 105 mL/g. This material showed exceptionally high sorption capacities of 237 and 358 mg/g for SeO42- and SeO32-, respectively. Furthermore, LDH-MoO2S2 demonstrates substantial affinity and efficiency to remove SeO32-/SeO42- even in the presence of competitive ions from contaminated water. Hence, the removal of selenium (VI/IV) oxoanions collectively occurs through reductive precipitation and ion exchange mechanisms. This work provides significant insights into the chemical structure of the MoO2S2 anion into LDH and emphasizes its exceptional potential for high-capacity selenium removal and positioning it as a premier sorbent for selenium oxoanions.

An Enhanced FGI-GSRx Software-Defined Receiver for the Execution of Long Datasets.

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) software-defined receivers offer greater flexibility, cost-effectiveness, customization, and integration capabilities compared to traditional hardware-based receivers, making them essential for a wide range of applications. The continuous evolution of GNSS research and the availability of new features require these software-defined receivers to upgrade continuously to facilitate the latest requirements. The Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI) has been supporting the GNSS research community with its open-source implementations, such as a MATLAB-based GNSS software-defined receiver `FGI-GSRx' and a Python-based implementation `FGI-OSNMA' for utilizing Galileo's Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA). In this context, longer datasets are crucial for GNSS software-defined receivers to support adaptation, optimization, and facilitate testing to investigate and develop future-proof receiver capabilities. In this paper, we present an updated version of FGI-GSRx, namely, FGI-GSRx-v2.0.0, which is also available as an open-source resource for the research community. FGI-GSRx-v2.0.0 offers improved performance as compared to its previous version, especially for the execution of long datasets. This is carried out by optimizing the receiver's functionality and offering a newly added parallel processing feature to ensure faster capabilities to process the raw GNSS data. This paper also presents an analysis of some key design aspects of previous and current versions of FGI-GSRx for a better insight into the receiver's functionalities. The results show that FGI-GSRx-v2.0.0 offers about a 40% run time execution improvement over FGI-GSRx-v1.0.0 in the case of the sequential processing mode and about a 59% improvement in the case of the parallel processing mode, with 17 GNSS satellites from GPS and Galileo. In addition, an attempt is made to execute v2.0.0 with MATLAB's own parallel computing toolbox. A detailed performance comparison reveals an improvement of about 43% in execution time over the v2.0.0 parallel processing mode for the same GNSS scenario.

First molecular survey of tick-borne protozoan and bacterial pathogens in the questing tick population in Bangladesh.

Questing ticks carry various tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) that are responsible for causing tick-borne diseases (TBDs) in humans and animals around the globe, especially in the tropics and sub-tropics. Information on the distribution of ticks and TBPs in a specific geography is crucial for the formulation of mitigation measures against TBDs. Therefore, this study aimed to survey the TBPs in the questing tick population in Bangladesh. A total of 2748 questing hard ticks were collected from the pastures in Sylhet, Bandarban, Sirajganj, Dhaka, and Mymensingh districts through the flagging method. After morphological identification, the ticks were grouped into 142 pools based on their species, sexes, life stages, and collection sites. The genomic DNA extracted from tick specimens was screened for 14 pathogens, namely Babesia bigemina (AMA-1), Babesia bovis (RAP-1), Babesia naoakii (AMA-1), Babesia ovis (18S rRNA), Theileria luwenshuni (18S rRNA), Theileria annulata (Tams-1), Theileria orientalis (MPSP), Anaplasma marginale (groEL), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (16S rRNA), Anaplasma bovis (16S rRNA), Anaplasma platys (16S rRNA), Ehrlichia spp. (16S rRNA), Rickettsia spp. (gltA), and Borrelia (Bo.) spp. (flagellin B) using genus and species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The prevalence of the detected pathogens was calculated using the maximum likelihood method (MLE) with 95 % confidence interval (CI). Among 2748 ixodid ticks, 2332 (84.86 %) and 416 (15.14 %) were identified as Haemaphysalis bispinosa and Rhipicephalus microplus, respectively. Haemaphysalis bispinosa was found to carry all the seven detected pathogens, while larvae of R. microplus were found to carry only Bo. theileri. Among the TBPs, the highest detection rate was observed in A. bovis (20/142 pools, 0.81 %, CI: 0.51-1.20), followed by T. orientalis (19/142 pools, 0.72 %, CI: 0.44-1.09), T. luwenshuni (9/142 pools, 0.34 %, CI: 0.16-0.62), B. ovis (4/142 pools, 0.15 %, CI: 0.05 - 0.34) and Bo. theileri (4/142 pools, 0.15 %, CI: 0.05-0.34), Ehrlichia ewingii (3/142 pools, 0.11 %, CI: 0.03-0.29), and Babesia bigemina (1/142, 0.04 %, CI: 0.00 - 0.16). This study reports the existence of T. luwenshuni, E. ewingii, and Bo. theileri in Bangladesh for the first time. The novel findings of this study are the foremost documentation of transovarian transmission of B. bigemina and E. ewingii in H. bispinosa and also provide primary molecular evidence on the presence of E. ewingii and Bo. theileri in H. bispinosa. Therefore, this study may shed light on the circulating TBPs in ticks in the natural environment and thereby advocate awareness among physicians and veterinarians to control and prevent TBDs in Bangladesh.

Metal-sulfide/polysulfide functionalized layered double hydroxides - recent progress in the removal of heavy metal ions and oxoanionic species from aqueous solutions.

Water constitutes an indispensable resource for global life but remains susceptible to pollution from diverse human activities. To mitigate this issue, researchers are committed to purifying water using a variety of materials to remove harmful chemicals, such as heavy metals. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), with their intriguing, layered structure and chemical behavior, have attained substantial attention for their effectiveness in removing heavy metal cations and various inorganic oxoanions from water. To enhance the efficiency, considerable endeavors have focused on functionalizing LDHs with different chemical species. Intercalation with metal sulfides has proven to be particularly effective, facilitating heavy metal absorption through multiple mechanisms, including ion-exchange, reductive precipitation, and surface sorption. This review concentrates on the synthesis and performance of polysulfide (Sx, x = 2-5), Mo-S, and Sn-S anion intercalated LDHs for heavy metal cations and inorganic oxoanion sorption, along with their mechanisms. Furthermore, the discussion includes prospects for expanding the chemistry of metal sulfide intercalated LDHs, with existing challenges and future outlooks.

Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater using two-dimensional transition metal carbides.

Water is an indispensable material for human life. Unfortunately, the development of industrial activities has reduced the quality of water resources in the world. Meantime, heavy metals are an important factor in water pollution due to their toxicity. This study highlights the method for the capture of heavy metal ions from wastewater using the procedure of adsorption. The adsorption of toxic heavy metal ions (Pb2+, Hg2+, and Cd2+) on Ca2C as well as Cr2C carbide-nitride MXene monolayers is investigated using the density functional theory. We have carried out the optimization of the considered MXenes by nine DFT functionals: PBE, TPSS, BP86, B3LYP, TPSSh, PBE0, CAM-B3LYP, M11, and LC-WPBE. Our results have shown a good agreement with previously measured electronic properties of the Ca2C and Cr2C MXene layers and the PBE DFT method. The calculated cohesive energy for the Ca2C and Cr2C MXene monolayers are -4.12 eV and -4.20 eV, respectively, which are in agreement with the previous studies. The results reveal that the adsorbed heavy metal ions have a substantial effect on the electronic properties of the considered MXene monolayers. Besides, our calculations show that the metal/MXene structures with higher electron transport rates display higher binding energy as well as charge transfers between the metal and Ca2C and Cr2C layers. Time-dependent density functional analysis also displayed "ligand to metal charge transfer" excitations for the metal/MXene systems. The larger Ebin for the Pb@Ca2C as well as Pb@Cr2C are according to larger redshifts which are expected (Δλ = 45 nm and 71 nm, respectively). Our results might be helpful for future research toward the application of carbide-nitride MXene materials for removing wastewater pollutants.

Royal Poinciana Biodiesel Blends with 1-Butanol as a Potential Alternative Fuel for Unmodified Research Engines.

This research work investigates the experimental work of a single-cylinder diesel engine operated with royal poinciana biodiesel blends with various proportions of 10, 20, and 30% volume with 1-butanol as an effective ignition-improving additive. The test blends were indicated as D90RP7B3 (90% diesel + 7% royal poinciana biodiesel + 3% butanol), D80RP14B6 (80% diesel + 14% royal poinciana biodiesel + 6% butanol), D70RP21B9 (70% diesel + 21% royal poinciana biodiesel + 9% butanol), and pure royal poinciana biodiesel (RP100) and diesel. The significant findings or results obtained during the experimentation are that BTE is suitable for blend D90RP7B3, and the least BSFC is found for blend D90RP7B3 in the 0.24 kg/kWh range. The inline cylinder pressures are found to be suitable for the blend D90RP7B3 in the range of 7 MPa; HRR is ideal for both the blends D90RP7B3 and D80RP14B6 in the range of 90 and 88 kJ; D90RP7B3 possesses adequate ignition delay at full load conditions 16° in crank angle advance; maximum A/F ratios are well suitable for the blend D90RP7B3 in the ratio 11:1 at higher loads. Volumetric efficiency is achieved well for all the blends and diesel; the emissions released from the royal poinciana blends, such as CO, CO2, HC, and NOX, were reduced by 14.12, 8.33, 11.1, and 18.8% compared to standard diesel. Hence, royal poinciana blends with 1-butanol can be considered the best fuels in the automobile sector.

CdIn2Se4@chitosan heterojunction nanocomposite with ultrahigh photocatalytic activity under sunlight driven photodegradation of organic pollutants.

This research focused on synthesizing a CdIn2Se4@Ch nanocomposite by doping CdIn2Se4 into chitosan using a photolysis assisted ultrasonic process. The aim was to enhance the photodegradation efficiency of ofloxacin and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid under sunlight. The synthesized CdIn2Se4@Ch nanocomposite was investigated via different techniques, including XRD, XPS, FTIR, TEM, DSC, TGA, UV-Vis and PL. The study also investigated the influence of various reaction parameters, including the effects of inorganic and organic ions. The synthesized nanocomposite demonstrated exceptional efficiency, achieving 86 % and 95 % removal rates, with corresponding rate constants of 0.025 and 0.047 min-1. This performance surpasses that of CdIn2Se4 by approximately 1.35 and 2.25 times, respectively. The values of COD were decreased to 78 and 86 % for ofloxacin and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic, while the TOC values decreased to 71 and 84 %, respectively, from their premier values. The improvement in performance is associated with the introduction of CdIn2Se4 into chitosan, resulting in the self-integration of Cd into the catalyst. This creates a localized accumulation point for electrons, enhancing the efficiency of charge separation and further reducing the surface charge of chitosan. Experimental evidence suggests that superoxide and hydroxyl radicals play a significant role in the photodegradation of pollutants. Additionally, the nanocomposite exhibits excellent stability and can be reused up to five times, indicating remarkable stability and reusability of the developed photocatalyst.

Enhancing Wear Resistance of UHMWPE Composites with Micro MoS2 and Nano Graphite: A Taguchi-DOE Approach.

This study presents an in-depth investigation into the wear characteristics of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites reinforced with microsized MoS2 and nanosized graphite particles. The objective is to enhance the wear resistance of the UHMWPE by examining the effects of various parameters and optimizing the wear performance. To achieve this goal, wet wear tests were conducted under controlled conditions, and the results were compared between composites with micro MoS2 and nano graphite reinforcements. The Taguchi method was employed to design the experiments (DOE) using an L9 orthogonal array. Four key parameters, namely, reinforcement percentage, load, speed, and track radius, were varied systematically to analyze their impact on wear characteristics, including wear rate, frictional forces, and the coefficient of friction (COF). The data obtained from the experiments were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify the significant factors affecting wear behavior. Subsequently, the optimal wear parameters were determined through regression analysis, allowing for the prediction of wear characteristics under the optimum conditions. This research not only provides insights into the comparative performance of micro MoS2 and nano graphite reinforcements in UHMWPE composites but also offers a comprehensive approach to optimizing wear resistance by employing advanced statistical and experimental techniques. The findings contribute to the development of more durable and wear-resistant materials with potential applications in various industries, such as those investigated in the study, which are commonly employed, such as automotive, aerospace, medical devices, or manufacturing.

Antifungal plant flavonoids identified in silico with potential to control rice blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae.

Rice blast disease, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, poses a severe threat to rice production, particularly in Asia where rice is a staple food. Concerns over fungicide resistance and environmental impact have sparked interest in exploring natural fungicides as potential alternatives. This study aimed to identify highly potent natural fungicides against M. oryzae to combat rice blast disease, using advanced molecular dynamics techniques. Four key proteins (CATALASE PEROXIDASES 2, HYBRID PKS-NRPS SYNTHETASE TAS1, MANGANESE LIPOXYGENASE, and PRE-MRNA-SPLICING FACTOR CEF1) involved in M. oryzae's infection process were identified. A list of 30 plant metabolites with documented antifungal properties was compiled for evaluation as potential fungicides. Molecular docking studies revealed that 2-Coumaroylquinic acid, Myricetin, Rosmarinic Acid, and Quercetin exhibited superior binding affinities compared to reference fungicides (Azoxystrobin and Tricyclazole). High throughput molecular dynamics simulations were performed, analyzing parameters like RMSD, RMSF, Rg, SASA, hydrogen bonds, contact analysis, Gibbs free energy, and cluster analysis. The results revealed stable interactions between the selected metabolites and the target proteins, involving important hydrogen bonds and contacts. The SwissADME server analysis indicated that the metabolites possess fungicide properties, making them effective and safe fungicides with low toxicity to the environment and living beings. Additionally, bioactivity assays confirmed their biological activity as nuclear receptor ligands and enzyme inhibitors. Overall, this study offers valuable insights into potential natural fungicides for combating rice blast disease, with 2-Coumaroylquinic acid, Myricetin, Rosmarinic Acid, and Quercetin standing out as promising and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional fungicides. These findings have significant implications for developing crop protection strategies and enhancing global food security, particularly in rice-dependent regions.

Comparative simulation of nonlinear radiative nano casson and maxwell fluids with periodic magnetic force and sensitivity analysis.

This study investigated cyclic magneto-hydrodynamic radiative effects in Casson and Maxwell fluids, including nonlinear radiation and Arrhenius activation energy. It promotes non-Newtonian fluid use in diverse fields like industry, manufacturing, sciences, medicine, and engineering. Using boundary layer approximations, non-dimensional equations are formulated. For numerical solutions, widely recognized explicit finite difference method (EFDM) has been utilized. To ensure the robustness of EFDM results, stability and convergence tests are performed. Exploration involve a detailed sensitivity analysis by using RSM, offering a thorough understanding of influential parameters. These analyses explore complex interactions among physical parameters, affecting Nusselt number, skin friction, and Sherwood number. Maxwell fluid's velocity is more affected by periodic magnetic force than Casson fluid, during the presence of nonlinear radiation. Additionally, nonlinear thermal radiation has a greater impact on temperature and concentration profiles compared to linear radiation for both fluids. Moreover, Casson fluid has a stronger influence on the average heat transfer rate compared to Maxwell fluid with nonlinear thermal radiation which is 8.6 % greater than the Maxwell fluid. On the other hand, at constant thermal radiation (Ra), due to decrease of Brownian motion (Nb), the rate of heat transfer is reduced by 1.2 % and 0.3 % respectively for Maxwell and Casson fluid. Also, for thermophoresis parameter (Nt), this rate is reduced by 2 % and 1.6 % respectively. The investigation also revealed that the Ra exhibits a positive sensitivity towards average Nusselt number, while Nb and Nt are displayed a negative sensitivity.

Evaluation of different models of general practitioners working in or alongside emergency departments: a mixed-methods realist evaluation.

Background: Emergency healthcare services are under intense pressure to meet increasing patient demands. Many patients presenting to emergency departments could be managed by general practitioners in general practitioner-emergency department service models. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness, safety, patient experience and system implications of the different general practitioner-emergency department models. Design: Mixed-methods realist evaluation. Methods: Phase 1 (2017-8), to understand current practice: rapid realist literature review, national survey and follow-up key informant interviews, national stakeholder event and safety data analysis. Phase 2 (2018-21), to collect and analyse qualitative (observations, interviews) and quantitative data (time series analysis); cost-consequences analysis of routine data; and case site data for 'marker condition' analysis from a purposive sample of 13 case sites in England and Wales. Phase 3 (2021-2), to conduct mixed-methods analysis for programme theory and toolkit development. Results: General practitioners commonly work in emergency departments, but delivery models vary widely in terms of the scope of the general practitioner role and the scale of the general practitioner service. We developed a taxonomy to describe general practitioner-emergency department service models (Integrated with the emergency department service, Parallel within the emergency department, Outside the emergency department on the hospital site) and present a programme theory as principal output of the study to describe how these service models were observed to operate. Routine data were of variable quality, limiting our analysis. Time series analysis demonstrated trends across intervention sites for: increased time spent in the emergency department; increased emergency department attendances and reattendances; and mixed results for hospital admissions. Evidence on patient experience was limited but broadly supportive; we identified department-level processes to optimise the safety of general practitioner-emergency department models. Limitations: The quality, heterogeneity and extent of routine emergency department data collection during the study period limited the conclusions. Recruitment was limited by criteria for case sites (time series requirements) and individual patients (with 'marker conditions'). Pandemic and other pressures limited data collection for marker condition analysis. Data collected and analysed were pre pandemic; new approaches such as 'telephone first' and their relevance to our findings remains unexplored. Conclusion: Findings suggest that general practitioner-emergency department service models do not meet the aim of reducing the overall emergency department waiting times and improving patient flow with limited evidence of cost savings. Qualitative data indicated that general practitioners were often valued as members of the wider emergency department team. We have developed a toolkit, based on our findings, to provide guidance for implementing and delivering general practitioner-emergency department services. Future work: The emergency care data set has since been introduced across England to help standardise data collection to facilitate further research. We would advocate the systematic capture of patient experience measures and patient-reported outcome measures as part of routine care. More could be done to support the development of the general practitioner in emergency department role, including a core set of competencies and governance structure, to reflect the different general practitioner-emergency department models and to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness to guide future policy. Study registration: This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42017069741. Funding: This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR award ref: 15/145/04) and is published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 12, No. 10. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Hospital emergency departments are under huge pressure. Patients are waiting many hours to be seen, some with problems that general practitioners could deal with. To reduce waiting times and improve patient care, arrangements have been put in place for general practitioners to work in or alongside emergency departments (general practitioner­emergency department models). We studied the different ways of working to find out what works well, how and for whom. We brought together a lot of information. We reviewed existing evidence, sent out surveys to 184 emergency departments, spent time in the emergency departments observing how they operated and interviewing 106 staff in 13 hospitals and 24 patients who visited those emergency departments. We also looked at statistical information recorded by hospitals. Two public contributors were involved from the beginning, and we held two stakeholder events to ensure the relevance of our research to professionals and patients. Getting reliable figures to compare the various general practitioner­emergency department set-ups (inside, parallel to or outside the emergency department) was difficult. Our findings suggest that over time more people are coming to emergency departments and overall waiting times did not generally improve due to general practitioner­emergency department models. Evidence that general practitioners might admit fewer patients to hospital was mixed, with limited findings of cost savings. Patients were generally supportive of the care they received, although we could not speak to as many patients as we planned. The skills and experience of general practitioners were often valued as members of the wider emergency department team. We identified how the care provided was kept safe with: strong leaders, good communication between different types of staff, highly trained and experienced nurses responsible for streaming and specific training for general practitioners on how they were expected to work. We have produced a guide to help professionals develop and improve general practitioner­emergency department services and we have written easy-to-read summaries of all the articles we published.

Prevalence and factors associated with digital addiction among students taking university entrance tests: a GIS-based study.

BACKGROUND: The surge in digital media consumption, coupled with the ensuing consequences of digital addiction, has witnessed a rapid increase, particularly after the initiation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite some studies exploring specific technological addictions, such as internet or social media addiction, in Bangladesh, there is a noticeable gap in research focusing on digital addiction in a broader context. Thus, this study aims to investigate digital addiction among students taking the university entrance test, examining its prevalence, contributing factors, and geographical distribution using GIS techniques. METHODS: Data from a cross-sectional survey were collected from a total of 2,157 students who were taking the university entrance test at Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. A convenience sampling method was applied for data collection using a structured questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 25 Version and AMOS 23 Version, whereas ArcGIS 10.8 Version was used for the geographical distribution of digital addiction. RESULTS: The prevalence of digital addiction was 33.1% (mean score: 16.05 ± 5.58). Those students who are attempting the test for a second time were more likely to be addicted (42.7% vs. 39.1%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Besides, the potential factors predicted for digital addiction were student status, satisfaction with previous mock tests, average monthly expenditure during the admission test preparation, and depression. No significant difference was found between digital addiction and districts. However, digital addiction was higher in the districts of Manikganj, Rajbari, Shariatpur, and Chittagong Hill Tract areas, including Rangamati, and Bandarban. CONCLUSIONS: The study emphasizes the pressing need for collaborative efforts involving educational policymakers, institutions, and parents to address the growing digital addiction among university-bound students. The recommendations focus on promoting alternative activities, enhancing digital literacy, and imposing restrictions on digital device use, which are crucial steps toward fostering a healthier digital environment and balanced relationship with technology for students.

Mo3S13 Chalcogel: A High-Capacity Electrode for Conversion-Based Li-Ion Batteries.

Despite large theoretical energy densities, metal-sulfide electrodes for energy storage systems face several limitations that impact the practical realization. Here, we present the solution-processable, room temperature (RT) synthesis, local structures, and application of a sulfur-rich Mo3S13 chalcogel as a conversion-based electrode for lithium-sulfide batteries (LiSBs). The structure of the amorphous Mo3S13 chalcogel is derived through operando Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function (PDF), X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis, along with ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. A key feature of the three-dimensional (3D) network is the connection of Mo3S13 units through S-S bonds. Li/Mo3S13 half-cells deliver initial capacity of 1013 mAh g-1 during the first discharge. After the activation cycles, the capacity stabilizes and maintains 312 mAh g-1 at a C/3 rate after 140 cycles, demonstrating sustained performance over subsequent cycling. Such high-capacity and stability are attributed to the high density of (poly)sulfide bonds and the stable Mo-S coordination in Mo3S13 chalcogel. These findings showcase the potential of Mo3S13 chalcogels as metal-sulfide electrode materials for LiSBs.

Studies on the Removal of Malachite Green from Its Aqueous Solution Using Water-Insoluble ß-Cyclodextrin Polymers.

The rising global pollution of natural waters by dyes has brought to light the need for adaptable and efficient removal techniques. To create water-insoluble ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) polymers like CA/-CD, TA/-CD, and MA/-CD, several organic acids including citric acid (CA), tartaric acid (TA), and malic acid (MA) were cross-linked with ß-cyclodextrin in this study. The obtained polymers were characterized by different advanced analytical techniques such as FTIR, SEM, and UV-vis spectrophotometry. Malachite green dye was removed from aqueous solutions using the synthesized polymers by adsorption. The adsorption investigation was conducted under several conditions, including pH, adsorbent mass, dye concentration, temperature, contact time, adsorption isotherm, and kinetics. The adsorbent CA/ß-CD shows the highest adsorption of MG dye in all of the conditions because it contains a high number of carboxyl groups. The negatively charged carboxyl ions of CA/ß-CD attract the positively charged MG dye electrostatically and remove MG from aqueous media with an efficiency of 91%. As a result, the findings indicated that water-insoluble polymers based on ß-cyclodextrin are well-suited as inexpensive adsorbents to remove colors from aqueous media.

Did the COVID-19 pandemic affect levels of burnout, anxiety and depression among doctors and nurses in Bangladesh? A cross-sectional survey study.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 has caused severe disruption to clinical services in Bangladesh but the extent of this, and the impact on healthcare professionals is unclear. We aimed to assess the perceived levels of anxiety, depression and burnout among doctors and nurses during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We undertook an online survey using RedCap, directed at doctors and nurses across four institutions in Bangladesh (The Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute & Hospital (SRNGIH), Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Mugda Medical College Hospital (MMCH) and M Abdur Rahim Medical College (MARMC) Hospital). We collected information on demographics, awareness of well-being services, COVID-19-related workload, as well as anxiety, depression and burnout using two validated questionnaires: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). RESULTS: Of the 3000 participants approached, we received responses from 2705 (90.2%). There was a statistically significant difference in anxiety, depression and burnout scores across institutions (p<0.01). Anxiety, depression and burnout scores were statistically worse in COVID-19 active staff compared with those not working on COVID-19 activities (p<0.01 for HADS anxiety and depression and MBI emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalisation (DP) and personal accomplishment (PA)). Over half of the participants exhibited some level of anxiety (SRNGIH: 52.2%; DMCH: 53.9%; MMCH: 61.3%; MARMC: 68%) with a high proportion experiencing depression (SRNGIH: 39.5%; DMCH: 38.7%; MMCH: 53.7%; MARMC: 41.1%). Although mean burnout scores were within the normal range for each institution, a high proportion of staff (almost 20% in some instances) were shown to be classified as experiencing burnout by their EE, DP and PA scores. CONCLUSION: We identified a high prevalence of perceived anxiety, depression and burnout among doctors and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was worse in staff engaged in COVID-19-related activities. These findings could help healthcare organisations to plan for future similar events.

Amorphous K-Co-Mo-Sx Chalcogel: A Synergy of Surface Sorption and Ion-Exchange.

Chalcogel represents a unique class of meso- to macroporous nanomaterials that offer applications in energy and environmental pursuits. Here, the synthesis of an ion-exchangeable amorphous chalcogel using a nominal composition of K2 CoMo2 S10 (KCMS) at room temperature is reported. Synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function (PDF), X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) reveal a plausible local structure of KCMS gel consisting of Mo5+ 2 and Mo4+ 3 clusters in the vicinity of di/polysulfides which are covalently linked by Co2+ ions. The ionically bound K+ ions remain in the percolating pores of the Co-Mo-S covalent network. XANES of Co K-edge shows multiple electronic transitions, including quadrupole (1s→3d), shakedown (1s→4p + MLCT), and dipole allowed 1s→4p transitions. Remarkably, despite a lack of regular channels as in some crystalline solids, the amorphous KCMS gel shows ion-exchange properties with UO2 2+ ions. Additionally, it also presents surface sorption via [S∙∙∙∙UO2 2+ ] covalent interactions. Overall, this study underscores the synthesis of quaternary chalcogels incorporating alkali metals and their potential to advance separation science for cations and oxo-cationic species by integrating a synergy of surface sorption and ion-exchange.