Comprehensive first principles to investigate optoelectronic and transport phenomenon of lead-free double perovskites Ba2AsBO6 (B[bond, double bond]Nb, Ta) compounds.

In the current work we studied the structural, elastics, electrical, optical, thermoelectric, as well as spectroscopic limited maximum efficiency (SLME) of oxide based Ba2AsBO6 (B[bond, double bond]Nb, Ta) materials. All the calculations were performed using first-principles calculation by employing the WIEN2k code. We checked the stability in diverse forms such as optimization, phonon dispersion, mechanical, formation energy, cohesive energy, and thermal stability is computed. The semiconducting nature of these Ba2AsBO6 (B[bond, double bond]Nb, Ta) systems is revealed by calculating the direct band gap values are 1.97 eV and 1.49 eV respectively. Additionally, we determined the optical properties which analyze the utmost absorption and transition of carriers versus photon energy (eV). Moreover, Ba2AsNbO6 has an estimated SLME of 32 %, making it an encouraging alternative for single-junction solar cells. Lastly, we studied the transport properties against temperature, the chemical potential for p-type and n-type charge carriers at various temperatures. At 300 K, the zT values are found to be 0.757 and 0.751 for Ba2AsBO6 (B[bond, double bond]Nb, Ta) compounds respectively. Both materials were examined as having strong absorption patterns and an excellent figure of merit (ZT), indicating that materials are appropriate for daily life applications.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence towards the sustainable future of agri-food industry.

Artificial intelligence has the potential to alter the agricultural and food processing industries, with significant ramifications for sustainability and global food security. The integration of artificial intelligence in agriculture has witnessed a significant uptick in recent years. Therefore, comprehensive understanding of these techniques is needed to broaden its application in agri-food supply chain. In this review, we explored cutting-edge artificial intelligence methodologies with a focus on machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning. The application of artificial intelligence in agri-food industry and their quality assurance throughout the production process is thoroughly discussed with an emphasis on the current scientific knowledge and future perspective. Artificial intelligence has played a significant role in transforming agri-food systems by enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. Many food industries are implementing the artificial intelligence in modelling, prediction, control tool, sensory evaluation, quality control, and tackling complicated challenges in food processing. Similarly, artificial intelligence applied in agriculture to improve the entire farming process, such as crop yield optimization, use of herbicides, weeds identification, and harvesting of fruits. In summary, the integration of artificial intelligence in agri-food systems offers the potential to address key challenges in agriculture, enhance sustainability, and contribute to global food security.

Ab initio investigations of the structure-stability, mechanical, electronic, thermodynamic and optical properties of Ti2FeAs Heusler alloy.

In this study, we employed density functional theory coupled with the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method (FP-LAPW) to investigate the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of the Ti2FeAs alloy adopting the Hg2CuTi-type structure. Our findings demonstrate that all the examined structures exhibit ferromagnetic (FM) behaviour. By conducting electronic band structure calculations, we observed an energy gap of 0.739 eV for Ti2FeAs in the spin-down state and metallic intersections at the Fermi level in the spin-up state. These results suggest the half-metallic (HM) nature of Ti2FeAs, where the Ti-d and Fe-d electronic states play a significant role near the Fermi level. Additionally, the obtained total magnetic moments are consistent with the Slater-Pauling rule (Mtot = Ztot - 18), indicating 100% spin polarization for these compounds. To explore their optical properties, we employed the dielectric function to compute various optical parameters, including absorption spectra, energy-loss spectra, refractive index, reflectivity, and conductivity. Furthermore, various thermodynamic parameters were evaluated at different temperatures and pressures. The results obtained from the elastic parameters reveal the anisotropic and ductile nature of the Ti2FeAs compound. These findings suggest that Ti2FeAs has potential applications in temperature-tolerant devices and optoelectronic devices as a UV absorber.

Exploring the efficacy of a novel prebiotic-like growth promoter on broiler chicken production performance.

This study attempts to isolate a candidate growth promoter from the ovine paunch waste and scrutinize its effects on the production performance of broiler chickens as compared to mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS), a prebiotic, and lincomycin, an antibiotic growth promoter (AB). The paunch waste collected from slaughtered sheep was processed to remove particulate matter. The clarified liquid was then added to an excess of ethanol (1:9 ratio), and the resultant precipitate {(novel growth-promoting paunch extract (NGPE)} was collected, dried, and stored. In vitro increase in cell density for probiotic bacteria viz. Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecalis (Log10 CFU/ml) were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in NGPE supplemented media (2.78 ± 0.11 and 2.77 ± 0.10) as compared to that on MOS (1.28 ± 0.05 and 2.49 ± 0.09) and glucose (1.09 ± 0.04 and 1.12 ± 0.04) supplemented media. In the in-vivo trial of six weeks duration with broiler chickens (Cobb-400), NGPE supplementation resulted in significantly higher growth in weeks IV (P < 0.05) and VI (P < 0.01) of age in comparison to MOS and AGP supplemented groups, a lower (P < 0.01) cumulative feed conversion ratio in comparison to MOS supplemented groups, and a higher (P < 0.01) cumulative protein efficiency ratio compared to MOS and AGP supplementation. NGPE supplementation also lowered lipid peroxidation (P < 0.01), increased reduced glutathione activity (P < 0.01) in chicken erythrocytes, and boosted the lactic acid bacteria count in the cecal contents (P < 0.01). This is the first report of the isolation of a paunch waste extract that increased the in vitro growth of probiotic bacteria and improved the production performance of broiler chickens.

Recent advances in production of sustainable and biodegradable polymers from agro-food waste: Applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicines.

Agro-food waste is a rich source of biopolymers such as cellulose, chitin, and starch, which have been shown to possess excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity. These properties make biopolymers from agro-food waste for its application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Thus, this review highlighted the properties, processing methods, and applications of biopolymers derived from various agro-food waste sources. We also highlight recent advances in the development of biopolymers from agro-food waste and their potential for future tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications, including drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, biodegradable packaging, excipients, dental applications, diagnostic tools, and medical implants. Additionally, it explores the challenges, prospects, and future directions in this rapidly evolving field. The review showed the evolution of production techniques for transforming agro-food waste into valuable biopolymers. However, these biopolymers serving as the cornerstone in scaffold development and drug delivery systems. With their role in wound dressings, cell encapsulation, and regenerative therapies, biopolymers promote efficient wound healing, cell transplantation, and diverse regenerative treatments. Biopolymers support various regenerative treatments, including cartilage and bone regeneration, nerve repair, and organ transplantation. Overall, this review concluded the potential of biopolymers from agro-food waste as a sustainable and cost-effective solution in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, offering innovative solutions for medical treatments and promoting the advancement of these fields.

Tonic NMDAR Currents of NR2A-Containing NMDARs Represent Altered Ambient Glutamate Concentration in the Supraoptic Nucleus.

NMDA receptors (NMDARs) modulate glutamatergic excitatory tone in the brain via two complementary modalities: a phasic excitatory postsynaptic current and a tonic extrasynaptic modality. Here, we demonstrated that the tonic NMDAR-current (I NMDA) mediated by NR2A-containing NMDARs is an efficient biosensor detecting the altered ambient glutamate level in the supraoptic nucleus (SON). I NMDA of magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs) measured by nonselective NMDARs antagonist, AP5, at holding potential (V holding) -70 mV in low concentration of ECF Mg2+ ([Mg2+]o) was transiently but significantly increased 1-week post induction of a DOCA salt hypertensive model rat which was compatible with that induced by a NR2A-selective antagonist, PEAQX (I PEAQX) in both DOCA-H2O and DOCA-salt groups. In agreement, NR2B antagonist, ifenprodil, or NR2C/D antagonist, PPDA, did not affect the holding current (I holding) at V holding -70 mV. Increased ambient glutamate by exogenous glutamate (10 mM) or excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) antagonist (TBOA, 50 mM) abolished the I PEAQX difference between two groups, suggesting that attenuated EAATs activity increased ambient glutamate concentration, leading to the larger I PEAQX in DOCA-salt rats. In contrast, only ifenprodil but not PEAQX and PPDA uncovered I NMDA at V holding +40 mV under 1.2 mM [Mg2+]o condition. I ifenprodil was not different in DOCA-H2O and DOCA-salt groups. Finally, NR2A, NR2B, and NR2D protein expression were not different in the SON of the two groups. Taken together, NR2A-containing NMDARs efficiently detected the increased ambient glutamate concentration in the SON of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats due to attenuated EAATs activity.

Exploring the mechanical, vibrational optoelectronic, and thermoelectric properties of novel half-Heusler FeTaX (X = P, As): a first-principles study.

In this study, the density functional theory (DFT) was employed to study the structural, electronic, optical, and thermoelectric characteristics of half-Heusler (HH) FeTaX (X = P or As). Optimization of the structures was achieved using Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) parametrized generalized gradient approximation (GGA). These HH FeTaX (X = P, As) showed indirect bandgaps of 0.882 eV and 0.748 eV, respectively. The predicted density of states (DOS) spectra suggest that Fe-d and Ta-d states contribute predominantly to both valence and conduction bands, whereas P/As-p states contribute less. Optical properties were investigated to assess their potential in optoelectronic applications. The estimated values of various optical parameters and low loss suggest that the studied HH FeTaX (X = P, As) are suitable for optoelectronic device applications. The thermoelectric responses of the studied HH FeTaX (X = P, As) were computed, and their highest power factors at high temperature reflects their usage in thermoelectric devices.

Recent advances in cellulose-based sustainable materials for wastewater treatment: An overview.

Water pollution presents a significant challenge, impacting ecosystems and human health. The necessity for solutions to address water pollution arises from the critical need to preserve and protect the quality of water resources. Effective solutions are crucial to safeguarding ecosystems, human health, and ensuring sustainable access to clean water for current and future generations. Generally, cellulose and its derivatives are considered potential substrates for wastewater treatment. The various cellulose processing methods including acid, alkali, organic & inorganic components treatment, chemical treatment and spinning methods are highlighted. Additionally, we reviewed effective use of the cellulose derivatives (CD), including cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), cellulose nano-fibrils (CNFs), CNPs, and bacterial nano-cellulose (BNC) on waste water (WW) treatment. The various cellulose processing methods, including spinning, mechanical, chemical, and biological approaches are also highlighted. Additionally, cellulose-based materials, including adsorbents, membranes and hydrogels are critically discussed. The review also highlighted the mechanism of adsorption, kinetics, thermodynamics, and sorption isotherm studies of adsorbents. The review concluded that the cellulose-derived materials are effective substrates for removing heavy metals, dyes, pathogenic microorganisms, and other pollutants from WW. Similarly, cellulose based materials are used for flocculants and water filtration membranes. Cellulose composites are widely used in the separation of oil and water emulsions as well as in removing dyes from wastewater. Cellulose's natural hydrophilicity makes it easier for it to interact with water molecules, making it appropriate for use in water treatment processes. Furthermore, the materials derived from cellulose have wider application in WW treatment due to their inexhaustible sources, low energy consumption, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and renewable nature.

Outcome of Nasal Layer Reinforcement With Autologous Dermis in Cleft Palate Repair on Postoperative Fistula Formation.

Palatal fistulae are challenging complications following cleft palate repair. The addition of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) to cleft palate repair has been shown to reduce fistula formation in previous studies. The use of autologous dermal graft has all the structural advantages of ADM, has less rejection and immunogenic potential, and is cost effective.A prospective study.Patients with Group II and III cleft palate (Nagpur Classification) without prior intervention for palatal repair in the Department of Plastic Surgery at PGIMER from January 2020 till June 2021.The addition of autologous dermal graft for palatoplasty.Outcome of the study was fistula development or exposure of dermal graft.Autologous dermal graft was harvested of average dimension of 8.73 cm2 (range 5.25-18 cm2) from groin region. Sixteen patients were included in the study. Among them, 2 patients (12.5%) developed postoperative fistula (Type III &V Pittsburgh Classification).Our study showed that the rates of postoperative fistula formation are comparable with prior literature using artificial dermal matrices.

First principles investigation of halide based Rb2NaGaZ6 (Z = Br, I) double perovskites for energy harvesting applications.

Extensive investigations have been conducted on the thermoelectric and optoelectronic characteristics of double perovskite compounds using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) approach. Here we investigated Rb2NaGaZ6 (Z = Br, I) to explore its band structure, and electronic, optical and transport properties. Born's stability criteria have confirmed the mechanical stability of these compounds. Analysis of the elastic properties reveals their ductile nature, as indicated by a Poisson coefficient (υ) greater than 0.26 and a Pugh ratio exceeding 1.75 for Rb2NaGaZ6 (Z = Br, I). Computation of the bandgap values shows that both compositions possess a direct bandgap nature, with respective values of 2.90 eV and 1.25 eV. This suggests that substituting Br with I brings the band edges closer together, resulting in a decrease in the bandgap value. The optical properties are assessed based on the absorption coefficient, reflectivity, and dielectric constants. The thermoelectric properties, including thermal and electrical conductivities, power factor (PF), and figure of merit (ZT), are determined using the BoltzTrap code. The ZT values indicate that both compositions exhibit promising potential for various transportation applications.

Physical, optoelectronic and thermoelectric characteristics of double perovskite (Sr2ScBiO6) for green energy technology using ab initio computations.

This work presents the investigation of physical characteristics including structural, electronic, elastic, optical and thermoelectric, of the double perovskite (DP) oxide Sr2ScBiO6 with the aid of the FP-LAPW method, dependent on DFT combined with BoltzTraP code. To incorporate the inclusion of exchange as well as correlation effects, approximations like LDA and three different forms of GGA [PBE-GGA, WC-GGA & PBEsol-GGA] are applied. The mBJ-GGA method including spin-orbital coupling (SOC) & not including SOC was utilised in this investigation and it was carried out in the WIEN2k code. In addition, the TB-mBJ exchange potential analysis classified Sr2ScBiO6 as having a p-type semiconducting nature with an indirect bandgap value of 3.327 eV. Additionally, the mechanical properties analysis and the related elastic constants demonstrate the anisotropic nature of Sr2ScBiO6 with decent mechanical stability. Apart from that, the Sr2ScBiO6 was considered a brittle non-central force solid with dominant covalent bonding. The varying optical parameter evaluations highlighted the potential use of Sr2ScBiO6 in visible-light (vis) and ultraviolet (UV)-based optoelectronic devices. Moreover, the semiconducting nature of Sr2ScBiO6 was verified through its thermoelectric response, which revealed that the charge carriers mostly consist of holes. Over a wide temperature range (100-1200 K), several transport metrics like the Seebeck coefficient (S), electrical conductivity (σ/τ), thermal conductivity (κ/τ), and power factor (PF) are investigated. An optimal value of figure of merit (ZT) ∼ 0.62 at T = 1200 K is accomplished. The extremely lower value of thermal conductivity as well as higher electrical conductivity leads to a higher figure of merit of the investigated system. The Sr2ScBiO6 verified a high ZT value, confirming that the material would be beneficial in renewable energy and thermoelectric (TE) applications.

A2LiGaI6 (A = Cs, Rb): New lead-free and direct bandgap halide double perovskites for IR application.

Recently, all inorganic double perovskites have drawn a lot of interest as promising solar materials. The optical, structural, thermoelectric, electronic, and mechanical properties of double halide perovskites A2LiGaI6 (A = Cs, Rb) are explored via first-principles calculations with the WIEN2k code, using GGA PBEsol and TB-mBJ potentials. The majority of perovskite materials utilized in the highest-performing solar cells have bandgaps ranging between 1.48 and 1.62 eV. The compounds A2LiGaI6 (A = Cs, Rb) have a direct bandgap of 1.51 eV and 1.55 eV, respectively, and are expected to be useful in solar cells. The optical study shows that there are large absorption bands in the visible region, as determined by the dielectric constant, absorption, and other dependent factors. Their potential for use in solar cells is increased by their absorption in the visible part. The BoltzTraP code has been used to perform thermoelectric studies to assess the electrical, thermal conductivities, and Seebeck coefficient. They are important for construction of thermoelectric generators that harvest heat energy because of their high figure of merit and incredibly low thermal conductivity of lattice at ambient temperature. Furthermore, by examining the spectroscopic limit maximum efficiency, up to 30 % efficiency is predicted for both compositions, which paves the way for the applicability of them in solar energy conversion.

Comprehensive analysis of novel cubic HgCrO3 perovskite: a first principles, structural, thermodynamic, and magnetic properties study for spintronic applications.

The main goal of modern manufacturing is to create products that are affordable, eco-friendly, and energy-efficient. With a focus on HgCrO3, this study sought to discover molecules that meet these requirements. The structural, electrical, thermodynamic, and transport properties of the material were investigated using Wien2K, a full-potential, linearized augmented plane wave program (FP LAPW). Utilizing the generalised gradient approximation (GGA) and lattice constants that have previously produced excellent theoretical and practical findings, structural optimization was carried out. Calculated HgCrO3 magnetic characteristics show that the Cr and Hg atoms are the main contributors to magnetism. Over a temperature range of 0-1200 K and a pressure range of 0-196 GPa, thermodynamic characteristics were evaluated. The thermoelectric properties of HgCrO3 were evaluated using the Boltzmann transport method provided by the BoltzTrap program. This analysis revealed that at room temperature, the figures of merit (ZT) values for HgCrO3 were nearly equal to one. A ZT value close to one indicates that a material has excellent thermoelectric properties and can efficiently convert heat into electricity or vice versa. This investigation highlights the promising thermoelectric capabilities of HgCrO3, which could contribute to more sustainable and energy-efficient technologies in the future.

Study of the Influence of Electron Spin in Ferromagnetism and Thermoelectric Characteristics of CdTm2Y4 (Y = S, Se) Spinels for Spintronic Applications.

The current study used full-potential methods to examine the ferromagnetic characteristics of CdTm2Y4(Y= S, Se) spinels; i.e., structural, elastic, electronic, and thermoelectric characteristics of these spinels have been explored for the first time. We used PBEsol-GGA for enthalpy of formation calculations to explain the stability of the ferromagnetic state and calculate the elastic constants and corresponding mechanical modules to reveal the ductile behavior of the materials. The mBJ potential is used instead of PBEsol-GGA to obtain more accurate and precise results of electronic and thermoelectric characteristics. Using mBJ potential leads to complete occupation of the bands in the materials and a clear interpretation of the density of states (DOS). The analysis of the electronic band structure and DOS reveals the stability of the ferromagnetic state in the analyzed materials as a result of p-d hybridization-based exchange splitting of Tm cations in the lattice. The calculations of thermoelectric efficiency are effective in evaluating the aptitude pertinence of the material in waste energy recovery systems and other technological applications. The thermal parameters of these materials are also analyzed to examine their thermal stability over a wide range of temperatures. The results of these calculations are essential for determining the suitability of the materials for use in spintronics-based devices and thermoelectric appliances as these devices rely heavily on the material's thermoelectric properties.

Advanced oxidation process for the treatment of industrial wastewater: A review on strategies, mechanisms, bottlenecks and prospects.

Due to its complex and, often, highly contaminated nature, treating industrial wastewater poses a significant environmental problem. Many of the persistent pollutants found in industrial effluents cannot be effectively removed by conventional treatment procedures. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) have emerged as a promising solution, offering versatile and effective means of pollutant removal and mineralization. This comprehensive review explores the application of various AOP strategies in industrial wastewater treatment, focusing on their mechanisms and effectiveness. Ozonation (O3): Ozonation, leveraging ozone (O3), represents a well-established AOP for industrial waste water treatment. Ozone's formidable oxidative potential enables the breakdown of a broad spectrum of organic and inorganic contaminants. This paper provides an in-depth examination of ozone reactions, practical applications, and considerations involved in implementing ozonation. UV/Hydrogen Peroxide (UV/H2O2): The combination of ultraviolet (UV) light and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has gained prominence as an AOP due to its ability to generate hydroxyl radicals (ȮH), highly efficient in pollutant degradation. The review explores factors influencing the efficiency of UV/H2O2 processes, including H2O2 dosage and UV radiation intensity. Fenton and Photo-Fenton Processes: Fenton's reagent and Photo-Fenton processes employ iron ions and hydrogen peroxide to generate hydroxyl radicals for pollutant oxidation. The paper delves into the mechanisms, catalyst selection, and the role of photoactivation in enhancing degradation rates within the context of industrial wastewater treatment. Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes (EAOPs): EAOPs encompass a range of techniques, such as electro-Fenton and anodic oxidation, which employ electrode reactions to produce ȮH radicals. This review explores the electrochemical principles, electrode materials, and operational parameters critical for optimizing EAOPs in industrial wastewater treatment. TiO2 Photocatalysis (UV/TiO2): Titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalysis, driven by UV light, is examined for its potential in industrial wastewater treatment. The review investigates TiO2 catalyst properties, reaction mechanisms, and the influence of parameters like catalyst loading and UV intensity on pollutant removal. Sonolysis (Ultrasonic Irradiation): High-frequency ultrasound-induced sonolysis represents a unique AOP, generating ȮH radicals during the formation and collapse of cavitation bubbles. This paper delves into the physics of cavitation, sonolytic reactions, and optimization strategies for industrial wastewater treatment. This review offers a critical assessment of the applicability, advantages, and limitations of these AOP strategies in addressing the diverse challenges posed by industrial wastewater. It emphasizes the importance of selecting AOPs tailored to the specific characteristics of industrial effluents and outlines potential directions for future research and practical implementation. The integrated use of these AOPs, when appropriately adapted, holds the potential to achieve sustainable and efficient treatment of industrial wastewater, contributing significantly to environmental preservation and regulatory compliance.

Recent trends in polysaccharide-based biodegradable polymers for smart food packaging industry.

Artificial packaging materials, such as plastic, can cause significant environmental problems. Thus, the use of polysaccharide-based biodegradable polymers (cellulose, starch, and alginate) has the potential in the field of environmental sustainability, reprocessing, or protection of the environment. Morphological and structural alterations caused by material degradation have a substantial impact on polymer material characteristics. To avoid degradation during storage, it is critical to evaluate and comprehend the structure, characteristics, and behavior of modern bio-based materials for potential food packaging applications. Hence, this review focused on the various types of polysaccharide-based biodegradable polymers (cellulose, starch, and alginate), their properties, and their commercial potential for food packaging applications. In addition, we overviewed the recent development of polysaccharide-based biodegradable polymer (cellulose, starch, and alginate) packaging for food products. The review concluded that the membrane and chromatographics are widely used in production of cellulose, starch, and alginate-based biodegradable polymers. Also, nanotechnology-based food packaging is widely used to improve the properties of cellulose, starch, and alginate biodegradable polymers and the incorporation of active agents to enhance the shelf life of food products. Overall, the review highlighted the potential of cellulose, starch, and alginate biodegradable polymers in the food packaging industry and the need for potential research and development to improve their properties and commercial viability.

Theoretical insights into the structural, optoelectronic, thermoelectric, and thermodynamic behavior of novel quaternary LiZrCoX (X = Ge, Sn) compounds based on first-principles study.

The structural, magnetic, electronic, elastic, vibrational, optical, thermodynamic as well as thermoelectric properties of newly predicted quaternary LiZrCoX (X = Ge, Sn) Heusler compounds are evaluated intricately with the aid of ab initio techniques developed under the framework of density functional theory. The computed structural properties are found to be in tandem with the existing analogous theoretical and experimental facts. Structural optimization has been carried out in three different structural arrangements, i.e., Type-1, Type-2, and Type-3. Further analysis of the optimization curves reveals that the Type-3 phase, which has the least amount of energy, is the most stable structure for the compounds under consideration. The tabulated cohesive energy and formation energy of these compounds depict their chemical as well as thermodynamic stability. The absence of negative phonon frequencies in the phonon band spectrum of the studied compounds depicts their dynamic stability. Similarly, the tabulated second-order elastic constants (Cij) and the linked elastic moduli show their stability in the cubic phase. The calculated value of Pugh's ratio and Cauchy pressure reveal that LiZrCoGe is brittle whereas LiZrCoSn is ductile. Additionally, the optical characteristics of the compounds are studied in terms of the dielectric function, refractive index, extinction coefficient, absorption coefficient, reflectivity, energy loss function, and optical conductivity. The obtained high value of power factor and figure of merit of the studied lithium-based quaternary compounds predict good thermoelectric behavior in these compounds. Thus, LiZrCoX (X = Ge, Sn) compounds can therefore be used to create innovative and intriguing thermoelectric materials as well as optoelectronic and energy-harvesting equipment.

Tonic Activation of NR2D-Containing NMDARs Exacerbates Dopaminergic Neuronal Loss in MPTP-Injected Parkinsonian Mice.

NR2D subunit-containing NMDA receptors (NMDARs) gradually disappear during brain maturation but can be recruited by pathophysiological stimuli in the adult brain. Here, we report that 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) intoxication recruited NR2D subunit-containing NMDARs that generated an Mg2+-resistant tonic NMDA current (INMDA) in dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the midbrain of mature male mice. MPTP selectively generated an Mg2+-resistant tonic INMDA in DA neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Consistently, MPTP increased NR2D but not NR2B expression in the midbrain regions. Pharmacological or genetic NR2D interventions abolished the generation of Mg2+-resistant tonic INMDA in SNpc DA neurons, and thus attenuated subsequent DA neuronal loss and gait deficits in MPTP-treated mice. These results show that extrasynaptic NR2D recruitment generates Mg2+-resistant tonic INMDA and exacerbates DA neuronal loss, thus contributing to MPTP-induced Parkinsonism. The state-dependent NR2D recruitment could be a novel therapeutic target for mitigating cell type-specific neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT NR2D subunit-containing NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are widely expressed in the brain during late embryonic and early postnatal development, and then downregulated during brain maturation and preserved at low levels in a few regions of the adult brain. Certain stimuli can recruit NR2D subunits to generate tonic persistent NMDAR currents in nondepolarized neurons in the mature brain. Our results show that MPTP intoxication recruits NR2D subunits in midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons, which leads to tonic NMDAR current-promoting dopaminergic neuronal death and consequent abnormal gait behavior in the MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). This is the first study to indicate that extrasynaptic NR2D recruitment could be a target for preventing neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases.

Mobile technology features and technostress in mandatory online teaching during the COVID-19 crisis.

Technostress is defined as any unhealthy condition caused by dealing with modern technology in various harmful ways; examples of technostress include addiction and stress. Even though technostress has been extensively studied in the literature, little attention has been paid to investigating technostress among academics who work in exceptional circumstances, such as crises, and who might be experiencing different psychological states due to those circumstances. To fill the gap, this study aims to explore the factors influencing technostress among school teachers. The study examined technostress's level and factor graphics structure among 692 academics from different Arab countries during COVID-19. The technostress factors and their stories were explored and measured using sequential mixed methods and confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis. The study discusses various factors' direct and indirect effects on mobile technology integration in education and the theoretical and practical implications of managing technostress in online classes. A model of techno-stressors among Arab academics was found to include: schedule overload, complexity, uncertainty, uselessness, invasion, and compulsion. The direct effect of various factors on mobile technology integration in education is mainly positive, while indirect effects are more varied. The theoretical and practical implications of managing technostress in online classes include: considering the psychological and physiological impact of technostress on students' learning performance, decreasing overall satisfaction with the learning experience, and improving the overall quality of online courses. As a result of this study's findings, a new perspective is provided on how academics in particular circumstances (in this study, the occupation of Palestine) may behave and feel toward technology in teaching.

Proteomic investigation of neural stem cell to oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation reveals phosphorylation-dependent Dclk1 processing.

Oligodendrocytes are generated via a two-step mechanism from pluripotent neural stem cells (NSCs): after differentiation of NSCs to oligodendrocyte precursor/NG2 cells (OPCs), they further develop into mature oligodendrocytes. The first step of this differentiation process is only incompletely understood. In this study, we utilized the neurosphere assay to investigate NSC to OPC differentiation in a time course-dependent manner by mass spectrometry-based (phospho-) proteomics. We identify doublecortin-like kinase 1 (Dclk1) as one of the most prominently regulated proteins in both datasets, and show that it undergoes a gradual transition between its short/long isoform during NSC to OPC differentiation. This is regulated by phosphorylation of its SP-rich region, resulting in inhibition of proteolytic Dclk1 long cleavage, and therefore Dclk1 short generation. Through interactome analyses of different Dclk1 isoforms by proximity biotinylation, we characterize their individual putative interaction partners and substrates. All data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD040652.