ZnO/CuSe composite-mediated bandgap modulation for enhanced photocatalytic performance against methyl blue dye.

The removal of toxic dye pigments from the environment is of utmost importance since even trace amounts of these pollutants can lead to harmful impacts on ecosystems. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a potential technique for eliminating microbiological, inorganic, and organic pollutants from wastewater. Here, we report the band gap alteration of ZnO by making its composites with CuSe to enhance photocatalytic activity. The purpose is to develop metal oxide nanocomposites (ZnO/CuSe) as an effective and efficient material for the photodegradation of methyl blue. The photocatalysts, ZnO nanorods, CuSe, and ZnO/CuSe nanocomposites of different weight ratios were synthesized by the simple and cost-effective technique of precipitation. UV-Vis spectra verified that the ZnO/CuSe photocatalyst improved absorption in the visible region. The optical bandgap of ZnO/CuSe nanocomposites reduced from 3.37 to 2.68 eV when CuSe concentration increased from 10 to 50%. ZnO/CuSe composites demonstrated better photocatalytic activity than ZnO when exposed to UV-visible light. The pure ZnO nanorods could absorb UV light and the nanocomposites could absorb visible light only; this was attributed to the transfer of excited high-energy electrons from ZnO to CuSe.

Common clinical features of pediatric multiple sclerosis in Pakistan - A report of 15 cases.

The aim of this note is to assess the common clinical features of paediatric multiple sclerosis (PMS) in Pakistan. For this purpose, 150 MS patients with the age range of (1-72) years and mean age (34.2±11.09) years were studied during the period 2010 to 2015 from MRI centers of Pakistan. We found 15 paediatric MS cases which had clinical course relapsing-remitting MS (11), secondary-progressive MS (3) and primary-progressive MS (1). Revised McDonald criteria 2010 of MRI was used to disseminate lesions in space and time. Sensory symptoms were found 27% in PMS patients and contributed brain area of corpus callosum, brain stem, periventricle, basal ganglia, white matter and cerebellum. Optic neuritis was the second clinical feature and its prevalence was reported 20% in paediatric patients. In conclusion, Paediatric multiple sclerosis is predicted 10 % with mean age 11.2 years in Pakistan. Sensory and optic neuritis are suggested the common clinical features of paediatric multiple sclerosis in Pakistan.