Carbon based nanocomposites, surface functionalization as a promising material for VOCs (volatile organic compounds) treatment.

Urban residential and industrial growth development affects sustainable and healthful indoor environments. Environmental issues are a global problem. The deterioration of indoor air quality has prompted the creation of several air cleansing techniques. This review explains how carbon-based materials have influenced the development of air purification systems using photocatalysis. These carbon-based materials offer unique properties and advantages in VOC removal processes. Biochar, produced from biomass pyrolysis, provides an environmentally sustainable solution with its porous structure and carbon-rich composition. Carbon quantum dots, with their quantum confinement effects and tunable surface properties, show promise in VOC sensing and removal applications. Polymers incorporating reduced graphene oxide demonstrate enhanced adsorption capabilities owing to the synergistic effects of graphene and polymer matrices. Activated carbon fibers, characterized by their high aspect ratio and interconnected porosity, provide efficient VOC removal with rapid kinetics. With their unique electronic and structural properties, graphitic carbon nitrides offer opportunities for photocatalytic degradation of VOCs under visible light. Catalysts integrated with MXene, a two-dimensional nanomaterial, exhibit enhanced catalytic activity for VOC oxidation reactions. Using various carbon-based materials in VOC removal showcases the versatility and effectiveness of carbon-based approaches in addressing environmental challenges associated with indoor air pollution. Metal-organic-framework materials are carbon-based compounds. It examines the correlation between VOC mineralization and specific characteristics of carbon materials, including surface area, adsorption capability, surface functional groups, and optoelectronic properties. Discussions include the basics of PCO, variables influencing how well catalysts degrade, and degradation mechanisms. It explores how technology will improve in the future to advance studies on healthy and sustainable indoor air quality.

Beta-Blockers as an Immunologic and Autonomic Manipulator in Critically Ill Patients: A Review of the Recent Literature.

The autonomic nervous system plays a key role in maintaining body hemostasis through both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Sympathetic overstimulation as a reflex to multiple pathologies, such as septic shock, brain injury, cardiogenic shock, and cardiac arrest, could be harmful and lead to autonomic and immunologic dysfunction. The continuous stimulation of the beta receptors on immune cells has an inhibitory effect on these cells and may lead to immunologic dysfunction through enhancing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-10 (IL-10), and inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory factors, such as interleukin-1B IL-1B and tissue necrotizing factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Sympathetic overstimulation-induced autonomic dysfunction may also happen due to adrenergic receptor insensitivity or downregulation. Administering anti-adrenergic medication, such as beta-blockers, is a promising treatment to compensate against the undesired effects of adrenergic surge. Despite many misconceptions about beta-blockers, beta-blockers have shown a promising effect in decreasing mortality in patients with critical illness. In this review, we summarize the recently published articles that have discussed using beta-blockers as a promising treatment to decrease mortality in critically ill patients, such as patients with septic shock, traumatic brain injury, cardiogenic shock, acute decompensated heart failure, and electrical storm. We also discuss the potential pathophysiology of beta-blockers in various types of critical illness. More clinical trials are encouraged to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of beta-blockers in improving mortality among critically ill patients.

Patient-resident physician communication - a qualitative study to assess the current state, challenges and possible solutions.

BACKGROUND: Patients perceive effective patient-doctor communication as an important metric when evaluating their satisfaction with health systems. Hence, optimal patient-physician communication is fundamental for quality healthcare. High-income countries (HICs) have extensively studied patient-resident communication. However, there is a dearth of similar studies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, we aimed to explore the current state of and barriers to practicing good patient-resident communication and explore possible solutions to mitigate these challenges at one of the largest Academic Medical Centers in an LMIC. METHODS: This study employed an exploratory qualitative study design and was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Pakistan. Through purposive maximum variation sampling, 60 healthcare workers from diverse cohorts, including attendings, fellows, residents, and medical students, participated in eight focus group discussions. RESULTS: We identified three key themes from the data: Status-quo of residents' communication skills and learning (Poor verbal and non-verbal communication, inadequate training programs, and variable sources of learning), Barriers to effective communication (Institutional barriers such as lack of designated counselling spaces, lack of resident insight regarding effective communication and deficits in intra-team communication), and the need for developing a communication skills curriculum (Design, implementation and scaling to other cohorts of healthcare workers). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study show that multifaceted factors are responsible for inadequate patient resident-physician communication, highlighting the need for and importance of developing a formal communication skills training curriculum for residents. These insights can be used to create standardized training for equipping residents with adequate skills for effectively communicating with patients which can improve healthcare service delivery and patient outcomes.

Association of Body Surface Area Versus Body Mass Index on Outcomes in Peripheral Arterial Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Numerous studies have indicated that increased obesity in patients with established peripheral artery disease (PAD) is inversely associated with disease prognosis, a phenomenon coined as the "obesity paradox". A major cause of criticism in studies investigating the obesity paradox is the use of body mass index (BMI) as a surrogate marker in defining and quantifying the degree or severity of obesity. We conducted a retrospective review to verify whether the obesity paradox persists in patients with PAD when using body surface area (BSA) as an alternative anthropometric measure. METHODS: Patients undergoing surgery (open or endovascular) for PAD between January 2009 and March 2020 were identified from the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) national database. The association between BSA/BMI and risk of post-operative complications was evaluated using logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analysis, both of which adjusted for demographic and comorbid risk predictors. When analyzing BSA and BMI as categorical variables, patients were grouped according to BSA quintiles and the World Health Organization (WHO) BMI categories. RESULTS: A total of 130,428 patients were included based on our eligibility criteria, of which 85,394 (65.5%) were men. Patients were typically hypertensive (87.8%), diabetic (50.4%), and overweight (63.0% over 25 kg/m2). Patients with a high BMI or BSA typically presented at a younger age and with greater pre-operative administration of drugs (statin, ACE-inhibitor, anticoagulant, and beta blocker). Our results indicate that BSA and BMI are inversely associated with post-operative risk of all-cause morbidity, mortality, and cardiac complications. This finding was displayed when analyzing BMI/BSA as a continuous variable, or when indexing patients into BMI/BSA groups. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that the obesity paradox persists in patients with PAD when using either BMI or BSA as anthropometric measures. Future studies with a prospective design and utilizing newer anthropometric indices should be conducted to fully verify the presence of this phenomenon.

Virtual Reality Training for Central Venous Catheter Placement: An Interventional Feasibility Study Incorporating Virtual Reality Into a Standard Training Curriculum of Novice Trainees.

OBJECTIVES: This study assess the feasibility of integrating virtual reality (VR) simulation into the central venous catheter (CVC) placement training curriculum. DESIGN: The study consists of 3 parts: (1) Evaluating current manikin-based training for CVC placement through surveys for senior first-year anesthesia residents and cardiac anesthesia faculty who supervise resident performing the procedure; (2) Interventional study training novice trainees with VR simulator and assessing their reaction satisfaction; and (3) pilot study integrating VR training sessions into CVC training curriculum for first-year anesthesia residents. SETTING: Conducted at a single academic-affiliated medical center from December 2022 to August 2023. PARTICIPANTS: Junior first-year anesthesia residents. INTERVENTIONS: VR training sessions for CVC placements using the Vantari VR system. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Primary outcome: novice trainees' satisfaction with VR training for CVC procedure. Satisfaction of resident and faculty with standard manikin-based training was also collected. Faculty expressed concerns about residents' confidence and perceived knowledge in performing CVC placement independently. Novice trainees showed high satisfaction and perceived usefulness with VR training, particularly in understanding procedural steps and developing spatial awareness. Pilot integration of VR training into the curriculum demonstrated comparable training times and emphasized structured stepwise training modules to ensure completion of vital procedural steps. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the potential of VR simulation as a complementary training tool for CVC placement rather than a substitution of standard manikin training. VR is offering immersive experiences and addressing limitations of traditional manikin-based training methods. The integration of VR into training curricula warrants further exploration to optimize procedural proficiency and patient safety in clinical practice.

Mechanisms Underlying Sex Differences in Temporomandibular Disorders and Their Comorbidity with Migraine.

Sexual dimorphism in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and their comorbidity with migraine are important phenomena observed in clinics. TMDs are the most prevalent orofacial pain conditions with jaw joint and masseter muscle dysfunction. Migraine is the predominant headache commonly associated with TMDs. Women much more often suffer from this orofacial pain than men. However, currently, there is no gender-specific therapy for such pain conditions. Understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms behind sex differences in TMDs as well as their comorbidity with migraines is essential for developing novel approaches for gender-specific treatment of TMDs and related orofacial pain comorbidity. In this review, we summarize recent research progress regarding sex differences in TMDs, focusing on the underlying mechanisms including craniofacial anatomy, hormonal regulation, and roles of opioids, transient receptor potential channels, and endocannabinoid systems. We also discuss the mechanisms of comorbid TMDs and migraine. The information covered in this review will provide mechanistic insights into sex differences in TMDs and their comorbidity with migraine, which could aid in developing effective treatment strategies for the overlapping orofacial pain condition.

An Overview of Infectious and Non-Infectious Causes of Pregnancy Losses in Equine.

Equine breeding plays an essential role in the local economic development of many countries, and it has experienced rapid growth in China in recent years. However, the equine industry, particularly large-scale donkey farms, faces a significant challenge with pregnancy losses. Unfortunately, there is a lack of systematic research on abortion during equine breeding. Several causes, both infectious and non-infectious, of pregnancy losses have been documented in equines. The infectious causes are viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. Non-infectious causes may include long transportation, ingestion of mycotoxins, hormonal disturbances, twinning, placentitis, umbilical length and torsion, etc. In current review, we discuss the transmission routes, diagnostic methods, and control measures for these infectious agents. Early detection of the cause and appropriate management are crucial in preventing pregnancy loss in equine practice. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential causes of abortion in equines, including infectious agents and non-infectious factors. It emphasizes the importance of continued research and effective control measures to address this significant challenge in the equine industry.

Non-Surgical Bleeding and Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) Syndrome after TURP Surgery: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) surgery can develop TURP syndrome and post-TURP bleeding. Post-TURP bleeding can be surgical, from arteries or venous sinuses, or non-surgical, due to coagulopathy preventing clot formation. Non-surgical post-TURP bleeding may be due to high concentrations of urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in the urine that cause fibrinolytic changes and increase bleeding risk. Urine urokinase and tPA may have both local and systemic fibrinolytic effects that may prevent blood clot formation locally at the site of surgery, and cause fibrinolytic changes systemically through leaking into the blood stream. Another post-TURP complication that may happen is TURP syndrome, due to absorption of hypotonic glycine fluid through the prostatic venous plexus. TURP syndrome may present with hyponatremia, bradycardia, and hypotension, which may be preceded by hypertension. In this case report, we had a patient with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who developed both TURP syndrome and non-surgical post-TURP bleeding. These complications were transient for one day after surgery. The local effect of urine urokinase and tPA explains the non-surgical bleeding after TURP by preventing clot formation and inducing bleeding. Coagulation studies showed fibrinolytic changes that may be explained by urokinase and tPA leakage into the blood stream. In conclusion, non-surgical bleeding after TURP can be explained by the presence of fibrinolytic agents in the urine, including urokinase and tPA. There is a deficiency in existing studies explaining the pathophysiology of the fibrinolytic changes and risk of bleeding after TURP. Herein, we discuss the possible pathophysiology of developing fibrinolytic changes after TURP. More research effort should be directed to explore this area to investigate the appropriate medications to treat and prevent post-TURP bleeding. We suggest monitoring patients' coagulation profiles and electrolytes after TURP because of the risk of developing severe acute hyponatremia, TURP syndrome, fibrinolytic changes, and non-surgical bleeding. In our review of the literature, we discuss current clinical trials testing the use of an antifibrinolytic agent, Tranexamic acid, locally in the irrigation fluid or systemically to prevent post-TURP bleeding by antagonizing the fibrinolytic activity of urine urokinase and tPA.

Challenges in the management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis from a low- and middle-income country.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common progressive form of interstitial lung disease (ILD) that leads to gradual deterioration of lung function and ultimately death. Data from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) on IPF is scarce. In this communication, we report the challenges encountered in managing IPF from Pakistan's largest tertiary care centre. A total of 108 patients with IPF were evaluated at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan from January 2017 to March 2020. A significant concern was that most patients with IPF presented late during their disease. A bigger challenge encountered in clinical practice was the cost and nonavailability of antifibrotic therapy in the country until mid-2020. Successfully addressing these limitations, it is anticipated that better care will be available for the patients suffering from IPF in this part of the world.

Sustained corneal nerve loss predicts the development of diabetic neuropathy in type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: This study was undertaken to investigate whether sustained rather than a single measure of corneal nerve loss was associated with the onset of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and the progression of neuropathic symptoms and deficits in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: Participants underwent clinical, metabolic testing and assessment of neuropathic symptoms, vibration perception threshold (VPT), sudomotor function, and corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) at baseline, 1, 2, and 4-7 years. Sustained corneal nerve loss was defined as abnormal corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD, <24 fibers/mm2), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD, <21 branches/mm2), and corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL, <16 mm/mm2) persisting for ≥50% of the study duration. Results: A total of 107 participants with a mean duration of T2D of 13.3 ± 7.3 years, aged 54.8 ± 8.5 years, underwent baseline and follow-up assessments over a median duration of 4 years, ranging from 1 to 7 years. The DPN prevalence at baseline was 18/107 (16.8%), and of the 89 participants without DPN at baseline, 13 (14.6%) developed DPN during follow-up. Approximately half of the cohort had sustained corneal nerve damage, and corneal nerve measures were significantly lower in this group than those without sustained damage (p < 0.0001). Sustained corneal nerve damage was associated with the development of DPN (p < 0.0001), a progressive loss of vibration perception (p ≤ 0.05), an increased incidence of burning pain, numbness, or a combination of both (p = 0.01-0.001), and a borderline association with progressive sudomotor dysfunction (p = 0.07). Sustained abnormal CNFL effectively distinguished between participants who developed DPN and those who did not (AUC: 76.3, 95% CI: 65.9-86.8%, p < 0.0001), while baseline and other sustained measures did not predict DPN onset. Conclusion: Sustained abnormal CCM is associated with more severe corneal nerve damage, DPN development, and the progression of neuropathic symptoms and deficits. Regular CCM monitoring may enable the identification of those at greater risk of developing and worsening DPN who may benefit from more aggressive risk factor reduction.

The Frequency of Hypoglycemia and Its Symptoms in Preterm Neonates in the First 24 Hours.

Introduction Hypoglycemia is a critical concern in neonatal care, particularly among preterm infants. This study aims to investigate the frequency of hypoglycemia within the first 24 hours of life in preterm neonates, considering factors such as gestational age (GA), birth weight, and gender. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to August 2021. The sample comprised 186 preterm infants selected through consecutive sampling. Data collection involved demographic information, glucose level monitoring, and symptom assessment. Results Of the 186 preterm neonates, 31.7% (n=59) experienced hypoglycemia within the first 24 hours, with feeding refusal being the predominant symptom. There was a significant difference in hypoglycemia occurrence between infants born before and after 32 weeks of gestation (p<0.05). Males were slightly more affected than females, although not statistically significant. Infants weighing less than 2 kg showed a higher susceptibility to hypoglycemia. Conclusion The early detection and management of hypoglycemia are crucial in preterm neonatal care. Close monitoring, especially in the initial four hours, is essential to prevent complications. Larger studies are warranted to confirm these findings and improve understanding and management strategies for hypoglycemia in preterm neonates, particularly within the first 24 hours of life.

Designing and synthesis of perovskite nanocrystals: a promising wide-spectrum solar light-responsive photocatalyst and lead ion sensor.

Perovskites are an emerging material with a variety of applications, ranging from their solar light conversion capability to their sensing efficiency. In current study, perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) were designed using theoretical density functional theory (DFT) analysis. Moreover, the theoretically designed PNCs were fabricated and confirmed by various characterization techniques. The calculated optical bandgap from UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra were 2.15 and 2.05 eV, respectively. The average crystallite size of PNCs calculated from Scherrer equation was 15.18 nm, and point of zero charge (PZC) was obtained at pH 8. The maximum eosin B (EB) removal efficiency by PNCs was 99.56% at optimized conditions following first-order kinetics with 0.98 R2 value. The goodness of the response surface methodology (RSM) model was confirmed from analysis of variance (ANOVA), with the experimental F value (named after Ronald Fisher) of 194.66 being greater than the critical F value F0.05, 14, 14 = 2.48 and a lack of fit value of 0.0587. The Stern-Volmer equation with a larger Ksv value of 1.303710 × 10 6 for Pb2+ suggests its greater sensitivity for Pb2+ among the different metals tested.

Biopolymer­carbonaceous composites, progress, and adsorptive mitigation of water pollutants.

Chitin is the second most abundant natural biopolymer, which is composed of N-acetyl glucosamine units linked by ß-(1 â†’ 4) Chitosan is an N-deacetylated product of chitin. Properties of chitosan and chitin, such as biocompatibility, non-toxic nature, and biodegradability, make them successful alternatives for energy and environmental applications. However, their low mechanical properties, small surface area, reduced thermal properties, and greater pore volume restrict the potential for adsorption applications. Multiple investigations have demonstrated that these flaws can be prevented by fabricating chitosan and chitin with carbon-based composites. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the fabrication of chitosan/chitin carbon-based materials. Furthermore, this review examines the prevalent technologies of functionalizing chitosan/chitin biopolymers and applications of chitin and chitosan as well as chitosan/chitin carbon-based composites, in various environmental fields (mitigating diverse water contaminants and developing biosensors). Also, the subsequent regeneration and reuse of adsorbents were also discussed. Finally, we summarize a concise overview of the difficulties and potential opportunities associated with the utilization of chitosan/chitin carbon-based composites as adsorbents to remove water contaminants.

Utilization of social franchising in family planning services: a Pakistan perspective.

Introduction: Pakistan's private sector caters to around 65% of family planning users. Private sector family planning was promoted in the Delivering Accelerated Family Planning in Pakistan (DAFPAK) program by UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in 2019. We use data from DAFPAK to analyze the clientele and products distributed by two major NGOs, Marie Stopes Society (MSS) and DKT Pakistan, that support private providers in Pakistan. We also examined the effect of COVID-19 on client visits and contraceptives uptake at private facilities in Pakistan. Methods: DAFPAK used field validation surveys to analyze the volume of clients and products of 639 private facilities across three provinces (Punjab, KPK and Balochistan) of Pakistan. The data was collected in two phases (February 2020 and 2021) using multi-stage cluster sampling at 95% confidence level. Using a generalized negative binomial regression, facility-level characteristics and impact of COVID-19 was analyzed with the volume of clients and products given out at 95% confidence interval alongside descriptive analysis. Results: DKT facilities covered 53% of the sample while MSS covered 47%, with 72% facilities in the rural areas. Average facility existence duration is 87 months (7.25 years). While the average experience of the facility staff is 52 months (4.33 years). MSS is serving more clients as compared to DKT during both phase 1 (IRR: 3.15; 95% CI: 2.74, 3.61) and phase 2 (IRR: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.79, 2.49). Similarly, MSS had a greater volume of products given out in both phases 1 (IRR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.51, 2.38) and phase 2 (IRR: 2.57; 95% CI: 2.09, 3.14). In both phases, client visits and product distribution decreased when client privacy is invaded (IRR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.82 - phase 1) and (IRR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.97 - phase 2). Lastly, during COVID-19, products distribution decreased by a factor of 0.84 (IRR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.97) but client visits remain unaffected. Conclusion: Overall, clientele is low for all facilities. At a facility, privacy is a determinant of client visits and products given out per visit. Transiently, during COVID-19, client volumes decreased, with a shift from oral pills to condoms and emergency contraceptive pills.

Customizable polarization-selective narrowband meta-filters using a printable UV-curing nanocomposite.

Low-cost nanocomposite metasurfaces have demonstrated attractive potential to replace the equivalent dielectric metasurfaces for light engineering. However, the resonance characteristics of embedded structures in nanocomposite metasurfaces have not been further analyzed beyond the effective refractive index. Herein, we have proposed customizable polarization-selective narrowband meta-filters using ultraviolet-curable (UV) nanocomposites. As an additional degree of freedom, near-field effects between highly concentrated doped nanoparticles can enhance the Mie resonance of the low aspect ratio (AR = 0.2) meta-units. The surface lattice resonances (SLRs) of meta-filters can be coupled with enhanced Mie resonances of individual meta-units to realize tunable narrowband (FWHM ∼0.007λ) reflections with intensities near unity. Meanwhile, the polarization-selective properties of the reflection peaks can be tuned by optimizing the asymmetric lattice. Such proposed new-generation customizable meta-filters will offer, to our knowledge, novel strategies for filtering specific near-infrared polarized fluorescence in the integrated imaging systems.

Advancing Precision in 3D Echocardiography: Incorporating 3D Markers to Aid Spatial Orientation.

The incorporation of 3D imaging into diagnostic and interventional echocardiography has rapidly expanded in recent years. Applications such as multiplanar reconstruction that were once considered research tools and required off-cart analysis can now readily be performed at the point of image acquisition and in real-time during live image acquisition for procedural guidance. While the application and quality of 3D images have significantly improved in recent years, there remains a noticeable lag in the evolution of artificial intelligence that would further simplify the interpretative processes, both during live sessions and offline analyses. Users are still required to mentally reconstruct sliced images during multiplanar reconstruction based on color-coded planes. While this may be an effortless task for the seasoned echocardiographer, it can be a challenging task for echocardiographers who are less familiar with 3D imaging and multiplanar reconstruction. This article describes the utility of using 3D markers to aid in image interpretation.

New Insights Into the Treatment of Hyperlipidemia: Pharmacological Updates and Emerging Treatments.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of global mortality and morbidity. Hyperlipidemia is a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular diseases. Hyperlipidemia is characterized by imbalances in blood cholesterol levels, particularly elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, and is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Current management consists of lifestyle modifications and pharmacological interventions most commonly consisting of statins. This review paper explores pathophysiology, management strategies, and pharmacotherapies including commonly used well-established medications including statins, fibrates, and ezetimibe, exciting novel therapies including proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, and RNA interference therapies (inclisiran), lomitapide, and bempedoic acid, highlighting their mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, and safety profiles. Additionally, emerging therapies under clinical trials including ApoC-III inhibitors, DGAT2 inhibitors, ACAT2 Inhibitors, and LPL gene therapies are examined for their potential to improve lipid homeostasis and cardiovascular outcomes. The evolving landscape of hyperlipidemia management underscores the importance of continued research into both established therapies and promising new candidates, offering hope for more effective treatment strategies in the future.

DNA encoding schemes herald a new age in cybersecurity for safeguarding digital assets.

With the urge to secure and protect digital assets, there is a need to emphasize the immediacy of taking measures to ensure robust security due to the enhancement of cyber security. Different advanced methods, like encryption schemes, are vulnerable to putting constraints on attacks. To encode the digital data and utilize the unique properties of DNA, like stability and durability, synthetic DNA sequences are offered as a promising alternative by DNA encoding schemes. This study enlightens the exploration of DNA's potential for encoding in evolving cyber security. Based on the systematic literature review, this paper provides a discussion on the challenges, pros, and directions for future work. We analyzed the current trends and new innovations in methodology, security attacks, the implementation of tools, and different metrics to measure. Various tools, such as Mathematica, MATLAB, NIST test suite, and Coludsim, were employed to evaluate the performance of the proposed method and obtain results. By identifying the strengths and limitations of proposed methods, the study highlights research challenges and offers future scope for investigation.

Exploring Si-centered phthalocyanine as a single atom catalyst for N2O reduction: a DFT study.

To remove the greenhouse gas N2O from the environment, recently, researchers have taken great interest in single-atom catalysts (SACs). In this study, we investigated various reaction pathways and barrier energies for the N2O reduction process onto Si-coordinated phthalocyanine (Si@PthC) employing density functional theory. The outcomes validate that Si decoration in PthC is energetically stable while the corresponding electronic properties show that the Si atom acts as the reactive site for catalytic activity. The N2O molecule exhibits spontaneous dissociation over the catalyst surface from the O-end with -4.01 eV dissociation energy. Meanwhile, N2O dissociation via the N-end involves chemisorption onto the Si@PthC surface with an adsorption energy (Ead) of -1.16 eV, and the dissociation needs an energy barrier of 0.51 eV. The bond distances and negative adsorption energies (-1.11 and -2.40 eV) evince that CO and O2 species chemisorbed onto the Si@PthC surface. However, these energies are smaller than the N2O dissociation energy, which demonstrates that the presence of CO and O2 molecules cannot interrupt the N2O reduction process. Additionally, the CO + O* → CO2 reaction was executed for catalyst recovery, and the reaction proceeds very quickly on the Si@PthC catalyst, with a very small energy barrier (0.37 eV), indicating the excellent catalytic reactivity of the studied catalyst. These results propose that the designed catalyst can be valuable in the progress of novel noble metal-free catalysts for the elimination of harmful N2O from the environment.

Robust polymer hybrid and assembly materials from structure tailoring to efficient catalytic remediation of emerging pollutants.

A massive amount of toxic substances and harmful chemicals are released every day into the outer environment, imposing serious environmental impacts on both land and aquatic animals. To date, research is constantly in progress to determine the best catalytic material for the effective remediation of these harmful pollutants. Hybrid nanomaterials prepared by combining functional polymers with inorganic nanostructures got attention as a promising area of research owing to their remarkable multifunctional properties deriving from their entire nanocomposite structure. The versatility of the existing nanomaterials' design in polymer-inorganic hybrids, with respect to their structure, composition, and architecture, opens new prospects for catalytic applications in environmental remediation. This review article provides comprehensive detail on catalytic polymer nanocomposites and highlights how they might act as a catalyst in the remediation of toxic pollutants. Additionally, it provides a detailed clarification of the processing of design and synthetic ways for manufacturing polymer nanocomposites and explores further into the concepts of precise design methodologies. Polymer nanocomposites are used for treating pollutants (electrocatalytic, biocatalytic, catalytic, and redox degradation). The three catalytic techniques that are frequently used are thoroughly illustrated. Furthermore, significant improvements in the method through which the aforementioned catalytic process and pollutants are extensively discussed. The final section summarizes challenges in research and the potential of catalytic polymer nanocomposites for environmental remediation.