Sustainable green synthesis and characterization of nanocomposites for synergistic photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Orange 16 in textile wastewater using CuO@A-TiO2/Ro-TiO2.

This paper explores the photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) dye in textile wastewater employing a novel CuO@A-TiO2/Ro-TiO2 nanocomposite. The nanocomposite was synthesized via a hydrothermal technique, resulting in a monoclinic phase of leaf-shaped CuO loaded on a hexagonal wurtzite structure of rod-shaped ZnO, as confirmed by FE-SEM and XRD analyses. Optical experiments revealed band gap energies of 1.99 eV for CuO, 2.19 eV for ZnO, and 3.34 eV for the CuO@A-TiO2/Ro-TiO2 nanocomposite. Photocatalytic degradation experiments showcased complete elimination of a 100 mg/L RO16 solution (150 mL) after 120 min of UV light illumination and 100 min of sunlight illumination, emphasizing the nanocomposite's efficiency under both light sources. The study further delves into the application of the CuO@A-TiO2/Ro-TiO2 nanocomposite for the degradation of actual textile wastewater samples under sunlight irradiation. The results underscore the nanocomposite's remarkable efficacy in treating RO16 in textile wastewater, positioning it as a promising candidate for sustainable and efficient wastewater treatment applications. This research contributes valuable insights into the development of advanced photocatalytic materials for textile dye degradation in wastewater treatment.

Immobilization of biosynthesized gallium nanoparticles in Polyvinylpyrrolidone/Sodium alginate films: Potent bactericidal protection against food spoilage bacteria.

The increasing threat of spoilage bacterial infections, driven by the resistance of bacteria to many antimicrobial treatments, is a significant worldwide public health problem, especially concerning food preservation. To tackle these difficulties, this research investigates the possibility of using packaging sheets that include antimicrobial agents and increasing the prolonged storage time by preventing the bioburden of foodborne pathogens. This approach uses metal nanoparticles' ability to prevent harmful bacteria that cause food spoiling. Gallium nanoparticles (GaNPs) were created using a water-based extract from Andrographis paniculata leaves as a bioreducing agent. The GaNPs were added to a film made of sodium alginate (SA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The study showed that incorporating GaNPs into polymer films resulted in films with a desirable contact angle and decreased water vapor permeability. Significantly, the developed films demonstrated increased efficiency against E.coli O157 compared to other species. Also, it exhibited increased vulnerability to bacterial strains at the biofilm stage, surpassing PVP-SA/GaNPs-0. Remarkably, the toxicity tests showed that the films exhibited no cytotoxicity. Overall, the films indicated their potential for avoiding bacterial bioburden, prolonging the shelf life of perishable products, and contributing to diverse antimicrobial applications in the food industry.

Synthesis and biodegradation testing of some synthetic oils based on ester.

Synthetic ester oils are widely used in many applications due to their ideal cleaning properties, lubricating performance and assured polarity. The majority of esters oils are more biodegradable. than any other base stock. For instance, oil soluble polyalkyleneglycols (PAGs) or polyalphaolephins (PAOs), are only biodegradable in the lower viscosity grades. The goal of this study is to create some synthetic base oils by two major protocols; the first is esterifying valeric acid with various glycols (ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol and poly (ethylene glycol 400). The second involves esterification of propanoic acid, heptanoic acid, or octanoic acid with ethylene glycol. The reaction yield varies between 85 and 94%. The chemical composition of the prepared esters was examined using various spectroscopic methods (Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy. The thermal properties investigation by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed pronounced thermal stability of the prepared esters. The biodegradability was verified versus two bacterial isolates (B1, B2). The results showed that percentage of degradation of the lube oil was in the range of 34% to 84% after 3 days of incubation. Moreover, the rheological study revealed that the prepared esters exhibited Newtonian rheological behaviours. Viscosity examination displayed that the esters based on ethylene glycol, such as (A), had the highest VI: 179 values when compared to those based on higher glycols. Viscosity and viscosity index results showed slight increase as the number of carbon atoms in the acid chain increases. At last, most of the synthesized esters possessed pour points ≤ - 32 °C: ≤ - 40 except in case of using higher acids like heptanoic acid and octanoic acid in preparation the pour point increases to - 9 °C and - 15 °C.

A mesoporous Mo and N Co-doped TiO2 nanocomposite with enhanced photocatalytic efficiency.

This study reports the synthesis of a mesoporous Mo and N codoped anatase TiO2 nanocomposite with many oxygen vacancies using a simple one-step hydrothermal method and subsequent calcination treatment. Both Mo and N were effectively co-incorporated into the anatase phase of TiO2 without MoOx phase segregation. The codoped catalyst demonstrated a mesoporous architecture with a surface area of 107.48 m2 g-1 and a pore volume of 0.2974 cm3 g-1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed that both Mo and N dissolved in the TiO2 lattice and created induced oxygen vacancies. The interaction of the dopants (Mo and N) and oxygen vacancies clearly affected TiO2 crystal formation. Photocatalytic performance of the nanocomposite was investigated in terms of the decomposition of methyl orange at a concentration of 50 mg L-1 in an aqueous solution. The results revealed a significant methyl orange degradation of up to 99.6% after 30 min irradiation under a UV light. The impressive performance of the nanocomposite is assigned to the synergetic effect of important factors, including the co-doping of metallic (Mo) and non-metallic (N) elements, oxygen vacancy defects, bandgap, crystallite size, mesoporous structure, and BET surface area.

Effect of bismuth doping on the crystal structure and photocatalytic activity of titanium oxide.

The doping of TiO2 with metals and non-metals is considered one of the most significant approaches to improve its photocatalytic efficiency. In this study, the photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) was examined in relation to the impact of Bi-doping of TiO2. The doped TiO2 with various concentrations of metal was successfully synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and UV-vis spectroscopy. The XRD results revealed that the anatase phase, with an average crystallite size of 16.2 nm, was the main phase of TiO2. According to the anatase texture results, it was found that the doping of TiO2 increased the specific surface area for Bi2O3@TiO2 without a change in the crystal structure or the crystal phase of TiO2. Also, XPS analysis confirmed the formation of Ti4+ and Ti3+ as a result of doping with Bi. The activities of both pure TiO2 and Bi-doped TiO2 were tested to study their ability to decolorize MO dye in an aqueous solution. The photocatalytic degradation of MO over Bi2O3@TiO2 reached 98.21%, which was much higher than the 42% achieved by pure TiO2. Doping TiO2 with Bi increased its visible-light absorption as Bi-doping generated a new intermediate energy level below the CB edge of the TiO2 orbitals, causing a shift in the band gap from the UV to the visible region, thus enhancing its photocatalytic efficiency. In addition, the effects of the initial pH, initial pollutant concentration, and contact time were examined and discussed.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of cystic fibrosis in Palestine: Cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of cystic fibrosis in Palestine by studying the quality of life (QoL) of participants. METHOD: This cross-sectional study involved the application of Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R) to participants attending the pediatric pulmonology clinic at Caritas Baby Hospital between January and May 2017. Health status was assessed by measuring pulmonary function test (FEV1 ), body mass index (BMI), age of CF diagnosis, and presence of other affected siblings or deaths in the family. RESULTS: There were 77 participants from 58 families: 46.8% (36/77) were males, and 53.3% (41/77) were females. The mean age was 10.7 years (range: 0.5-36 years). The participants were divided into three groups by age in years: group I ( < 6), II (6-13), and III (≥ 14). The highest and lowest CFQ scores were for the eating domain in group III (55.6 ± 22.5) and the body domain in group II (14.5 ± 17.7), respectively. Mean illness severity was 69.6% (range: 33%-111%). The mean BMI was 15.9 (range: 9.6-23.1). The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 4.2 years (± 6.3). The study showed that 1.7% of the families (1/58) had four affected siblings, and 21% (12/58) had death cases related to CF, of which 58.3% (7/12) were from the Hebron district. Finally, all parameters for CF participants in West Bank, Palestine were noticeably lower than those reported in other countries. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates the need for new therapies for CF participants in Palestine to improve QoL, health status, and longevity.

Classification, processing, and applications of bioink and 3D bioprinting: A detailed review.

With the advancement in 3D bioprinting technology, cell culture methods can design 3D environments which are both, complex and physiologically relevant. The main component in 3D bioprinting, bioink, can be split into various categories depending on the criterion of categorization. Although the choice of bioink and bioprinting process will vary greatly depending on the application, general features such as material properties, biological interaction, gelation, and viscosity are always important to consider. The foundation of 3D bioprinting is the exact layer-by-layer implantation of biological elements, biochemicals, and living cells with the spatial control of the implantation of functional elements onto the biofabricated 3D structure. Three basic strategies underlie the 3D bioprinting process: autonomous self-assembly, micro tissue building blocks, and biomimicry or biomimetics. Tissue engineering can benefit from 3D bioprinting in many ways, but there are still numerous obstacles to overcome before functional tissues can be produced and used in clinical settings. A better comprehension of the physiological characteristics of bioink materials and a higher level of ability to reproduce the intricate biologically mimicked and physiologically relevant 3D structures would be a significant improvement for 3D bioprinting to overcome the limitations.

Improved Wear-Resistant Performance of Epoxy Resin Composites Using Ceramic Particles.

This work investigated the effects of using a new fabrication technique to prepare polymer composite on the wear-resistant performance of epoxy resin composites under dry friction conditions. Polymer composite samples with different weight contents of silicon carbide (SiC) particles were manufactured. This paper addresses the wear behavior of the obtained samples. With the suggested technique, the samples were prepared from epoxy/silicon carbide particles using a layer of thin kraft paper to prevent the sedimentation of the ceramic particles and to control the weight content of ceramic in the polymer. Kraft paper was used as a layer in the polymer composite. The hardness, wear resistance, and water absorption capacity of the produced epoxy composite samples prepared using the kraft paper technique were evaluated. The morphology of epoxy composite samples showed a significant improvement in the ceramic distribution and enhancement of interface bonding between ceramic and the polymer. The hardness values of the developed polymer composites were enhanced by up to 42.8%, which was obtained at 18 wt.% SiC particles. Increasing the ceramic content in the epoxy also led to the enhancement of wear resistance compared with pure epoxy. The results of the microstructure study also showed that the kraft paper layers helped in maintaining the distribution of the ceramic particles according to the previously specified content in each layer in the sample. Wear tests showed that the wear rate of the polymer composite decreased with the increase in the ceramic content. This study provides a new recycling method for using old kraft paper in polymer composite manufacturing to improve the distribution of ceramic particles in the polymer matrix.

Effects of Heat-Treatment on Tensile Behavior and Dimension Stability of 3D Printed Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites.

This work investigated the effects of heat treatment on the tensile behavior of 3D-printed high modules carbon fiber-reinforced composites. The manufacturing of samples with different material combinations using polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with 9% carbon fiber (PLACF), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) reinforced with 9% carbon fiber (ABSCF) were made. This paper addresses the tensile behavior of different structured arrangements at different% of densities between two kinds of filaments. The comparison of the tensile behavior between heat treated and untreated samples. The results showed that heat treatment improves the tensile properties of samples by enhancing the bonding of filament layers and by reducing the porosity content. At all structure specifications, the rectilinear pattern gives higher strength of up to 33% compared with the Archimedean chords pattern. Moreover, there is a limited improvement in the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity values for the samples treated at low heat-treatment temperature. The suggested methodology to evaluate the tensile behavior of the pairs of materials selected is innovative and could be used to examine sandwich designs as an alternative to producing multi-material components using inexpensive materials.

Synthesis and Identification of Novel Potential Molecules Against COVID-19 Main Protease Through Structure-Guided Virtual Screening Approach.

The novel coronavirus disease that arises in the end of 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, has rapidly spread over the globe and was considered as a world pandemic. Currently, various antiviral therapies or vaccines are available, and many researches are ongoing for further treatments. Targeting the coronavirus' main protease (key enzyme: 3CLpro) is growing in importance in anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug discovery process. The present study aims at predicting the antiviral activity of two novel compounds using in silico approaches that might become potential leads against SARS-CoV-2. The 3D structures of the new compounds are elucidated by single-crystal X-ray techniques. The interactions between different units of 4 and 5 were emphasized by analyzing their corresponding Hirshfeld surfaces and ESP plots. NBO and FMO analyses were investigated as well. Molecular docking combined with molecular dynamics simulations (MDs) was performed to investigate the binding modes and molecular interactions of 4 and 5 with the amino acids of coronavirus main protease (6LU7) protein. The best docking scores were obtained for both ligands through the major binding interactions via hydrogen/hydrophobic bonds with the key amino acids in the active site: HIS41, CYS145, MET49, MET165, HIS172, and GLU166 amino acids. A MD simulation study was also performed for 100 ns to validate the stability behavior of the main protease 3CLpro-ligand complexes. The MD simulation study successfully confirmed the stability of the ligands in the binding site as potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) inhibitors. Additionally, MMPBSA energy of both docked complexes was determined as a validation assay of docking and MD simulations to validate compound conformation and interaction stability with 3CLpro. The synthesized compounds might be helpful in the fight against COVID-19 prior to biological activity confirmation in vitro and in vivo.

Effect of fiber orientation on the mechanical properties of multi layers laminate nanocomposites.

The effect of fiberglass type and adding a very small amount of Nano filler in the resin on mechanical and thermal properties of multilayers laminate composite has been studied. The results show clearly that laminate composites can be achieved by controlling the fiberglass type and by dispersing nanoparticles in the resin. Using continues fiber glass helps to increase the impact strength by 17 %-24% compared with samples with random fiberglass. The barcol hardness of continues fiberglass composite is 7% higher than random fiberglass composite. The results of this study show that using small amount form Nano filler in the resin could produce a laminate composite with excellent thermal and mechanical properties.

[A PROSPECTIVE STUDY TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM PROPHYLAXIS IN INTERNAL MEDICINE WARDS].

INTRODUCTION: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) events are a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients and 50-75% of the events occur in internal medicine wards. Despite the proven efficiency of prophylactic treatments, their usage in hospitals is underutilized. Multiple studies have shown that only 30-50% of the high risk VTE patients are treated prophylactically. Interventional programs were shown to significantly increase the awareness and hence, the percent of patients treated. However, there are no official guidelines for prophylaxis implementation among hospital personnel in Israel. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of patients hospitalized in internal medicine wards to estimate the risk of VTE events and the prophylaxis rate. Patients were randomly selected and evaluated for VTE risk and treatment provided. During daily staff meetings on random sampling days, an open inquiry was conducted for each patient's management regarding VTE prophylaxis. This supervision was carried out for 3 consecutive months and 6 months later, to evaluate the implementation of the process. RESULTS: A total of 205 patients were sampled during the study. During the first month, 35% of the patients with indications for prophylaxis were treated. This percent increased to 50% in the second month, 60% in the third, and to 86% after six months (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The awareness of VTE prophylaxis was low, and only a third of the patients with indications for prophylaxis were treated. The awareness implementation was slow and incremental, and increased from 35% to 86%. We conclude that the supervision and training on VTE prophylaxis is efficient and essential.