Sulfurization of bimetallic (Co and Fe) oxide and alloy decorated on multi-walled carbon nanotubes as efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting.

The advancement in electrocatalysis, particularly in the development of efficient catalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER), is crucial for sustainable energy generation through processes like overall water splitting. A notable bifunctional electrocatalyst, CoFe2O4/Co7Fe3, has been engineered to facilitate both OER and HER concurrently, aiming to reduce overpotentials. In the pursuit of further enhancing catalytic efficiency, a morphological transformation has been achieved by introducing a sulphur source and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into the catalyst system, resulting in S-CoFe2O4/Co7Fe3/MWCNTs. This modification has significantly improved the activity for both OER and HER. An onset overpotential of 250 mV@10 mAcm-2 for the OER and 270 mV@50 mAcm-2 for the HER, indicating efficient catalytic activity at relatively low overpotentials. S-CoFe2O4/Co7Fe3/MWCNTs display an outstanding long-term stability in alkaline electrolytes, with minimal Tafel slopes of 77 mV/dec for the OER and 70 mV/dec for the HER, suggesting sustained catalytic performance over extended periods. Furthermore, when employed as both the cathode and anode in the context of complete water splitting, S-CoFe2O4/Co7Fe3/MWCNTs demonstrate an impressive cell voltage of 1.52 V at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 in a 1 M KOH solution, showcasing its viability for practical applications. Given its cost-effectiveness and superior activity, S-CoFe2O4/Co7Fe3/MWCNTs hold significant promise for widespread applications in overall water splitting electrocatalysis, contributing to the advancement of cleaner and sustainable fuel generation technologies.

Antimicrobial topical polymeric films loaded with Acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid (AKBA), boswellic acid and silver nanoparticles: Optimization, characterization, and biological activity.

The study examined the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of pure Acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid (AKBA), boswellic acid (70%) and AKBA loaded nanoparticles as topical polymeric films. The optimized concentration (0.05 % w/v) of pure AKBA, boswellic acid (BA), and AKBA loaded silver nanoparticles were used to study its impact on film characteristics. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), sodium alginate (SA), and gelatin (Ge) composite films were prepared in this study. The polymeric films were evaluated for their biological (antioxidant and antimicrobial activities) and mechanical characteristics such as tensile strength (TS) and elongation (%). Moreover, other parameters including water barrier properties and color attributes of the film were also evaluated. Furthermore, assessments were conducted using analytical techniques like FTIR, XRD, and SEM. Surface analysis revealed that AgNP precipitation led to a few particles in the film structure. Overall, the results indicate a relatively consistent microstructure. Moreover, due to the addition of AKBA, BA, and AgNPs, a significant decrease in TS, moisture content, water solubility, and water vapor permeation was observed. The films transparency also showed a decreasing trend, and the color analysis revealed decreasing yellowness (b*) of the films. Importantly, a significant increase in antioxidant activity against DPPH free radicals and ABTS cations was observed in the CSG films. Additionally, the AgNP-AKBA loaded films displayed significant antifungal activity against C. albicans. Moreover, the molecular docking analysis revealed the inter-molecular interactions between the AKBA, AgNPs, and composite films. The docking results indicate good binding of AKBA and silver nanoparticles with gelatin and carboxymethyl cellulosemolecules. In conclusion, these polymeric films have potential as novel materials with significant antioxidant and antifungal activities.

Facial expression recognition (FER) survey: a vision, architectural elements, and future directions.

With the cutting-edge advancements in computer vision, facial expression recognition (FER) is an active research area due to its broad practical applications. It has been utilized in various fields, including education, advertising and marketing, entertainment and gaming, health, and transportation. The facial expression recognition-based systems are rapidly evolving due to new challenges, and significant research studies have been conducted on both basic and compound facial expressions of emotions; however, measuring emotions is challenging. Fueled by the recent advancements and challenges to the FER systems, in this article, we have discussed the basics of FER and architectural elements, FER applications and use-cases, FER-based global leading companies, interconnection between FER, Internet of Things (IoT) and Cloud computing, summarize open challenges in-depth to FER technologies, and future directions through utilizing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta Analyses Method (PRISMA). In the end, the conclusion and future thoughts are discussed. By overcoming the identified challenges and future directions in this research study, researchers will revolutionize the discipline of facial expression recognition in the future.

Aloe-inspired eco-friendly synthesis of Ag/ZnO heterostructures: boosting photocatalytic potential.

The current research focuses on the development of Ag-ZnO heterostructures through a "bottom-up" approach involving the assembly and extraction of Aloe barbadensis Miller gel. These heterostructures composed of metals/semiconductor oxide display distinct and notable optical, electrical, magnetic, and chemical properties that are not found in single constituents and also exhibit photocatalytic applications. These synthesized heterostructures were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and UV-visible spectroscopy. The high peak intensity of the Ag/ZnO composite shows the high crystallinity. The presence of Ag-O, Zn-O, and O-H bonding is verified using FTIR analysis. SEM analysis indicated the formation of spherical shapes of Ag/ZnO heterostructures. The Zn, O, and Ag elements are further confirmed by EDX analysis. Ag-ZnO heterostructures exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity and stability against the degradation of tubantin red 8BL dye under visible light irradiation.

Multi-parametric thrombus profiling microfluidics detects intensified biomechanical thrombogenesis associated with hypertension and aging.

Arterial thrombosis, which represents a critical complication of cardiovascular diseases, is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide with no effective bioassay for clinical prediction. As a symbolic feature of arterial thrombosis, severe stenosis in the blood vessel creates a high-shear, high-gradient flow environment that effectively facilitates platelet aggregation towards vessel occlusion even with platelet amplification loops inhibited. However, no approach is currently available to comprehensively characterize the size, composition and platelet activation status of thrombi forming under this biorheological condition. Here, we present a thrombus profiling assay that monitors the multi-dimensional attributes of thrombi forming in conditions mimicking the physiological scenario of arterial thrombosis. Using this platform, we demonstrate that different receptor-ligand interactions contribute distinctively to the composition and activation status of the thrombus. Our investigation into hypertensive and older individuals reveals intensified biomechanical thrombogenesis and multi-dimensional thrombus profile abnormalities, demonstrating a direct contribution of mechanobiology to arterial thrombosis and endorsing the diagnostic potential of the assay. Furthermore, we identify the hyperactivity of GPIbα-integrin αIIbß3 mechanosensing axis as a molecular mechanism that contributes to hypertension-associated arterial thrombosis. By studying the interactions between anti-thrombotic inhibitors and hypertension, and the inter-individual variability in personal thrombus profiles, our work reveals a critical need for personalized anti-thrombotic drug selection that accommodates each patient's pathological profile.

Development of 2400-2450 MHz Frequency Band RF Energy Harvesting System for Low-Power Device Operation.

Recently, there has been an increasing fascination for employing radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting techniques to energize various low-power devices by harnessing the ambient RF energy in the surroundings. This work outlines a novel advancement in RF energy harvesting (RFEH) technology, intending to power portable gadgets with minimal operating power demands. A high-gain receiver microstrip patch antenna was designed and tested to capture ambient RF residue, operating at 2450 MHz. Similarly, a two-stage Dickson voltage booster was developed and employed with the RFEH to transform the received RF signals into useful DC voltage signals. Additionally, an LC series circuit was utilized to ensure impedance matching between the antenna and rectifier, facilitating the extraction of maximum power from the developed prototype. The findings indicate that the developed rectifier attained a peak power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 64% when operating at an input power level of 0 dBm. During experimentation, the voltage booster demonstrated its capability to rectify a minimum input AC signal of only 50 mV, yielding a corresponding 180 mV output DC signal. Moreover, the maximum power of 4.60 µW was achieved when subjected to an input AC signal of 1500 mV with a load resistance of 470 kΩ. Finally, the devised RFEH was also tested in an open environment, receiving signals from Wi-Fi modems positioned at varying distances for evaluation.

Phytochemicals for Cancer Treatment: An Update on Plant-Derived Anti-Cancer Compounds and their Mechanisms of Action.

Cancer remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Scientists from different fields are working to devise an efficient treatment strategy in order to reduce the global burden of cancer. Commonly used treatment approaches for cancer treatment include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, radiation, surgery, etc. These treatment procedures have several pitfalls, such as toxicity, limited bioavailability, rapid elimination, poor specificity, and high cost. On the other side, plant-derived anticancer compounds exhibit several advantages and can overcome these shortcomings. Plant-based anticancer compounds are safer, potent, easily available, and comparatively cost-effective. The current review discusses pure plant- based compounds that are used as a therapeutic remedy for anticancer application. The proposed mechanisms of action, through which these compounds inhibit cancer cell growth, tumor growth, angiogenesis, instigate apoptosis, cytotoxicity, mitochondrial membrane degradation, and reduce cell viability as well as cell cycle progression, are also reviewed. These naturally occurring compounds exhibit great therapeutic potential and could be used as candidate drugs in clinical applications.

Evaluation of Kappa-carrageenan supplementation in extender for post-thaw Kajli ram sperm quality.

Cryopreservation is one of the reliable techniques for long-term storage of sperm. The success of this technique depends on the choice of cryoprotectant; therefore, a plethora of literature has reported the effects of different cryoprotective agents so far. Kappa-carrageenan (κ-carrageenan) is a hydrocolloid polysaccharide extracted from red marine seaweed. Its unique property makes it a promising option as a non-colligative cryoprotectant. The current study aims to evaluate the cryoprotective effect of k-carrageenan along with glycerol on ram sperm quality both after equilibration and freezing. Nine Kajli rams were utilized in this experiment for semen collection through an artificial vagina maintained at 42°C. Qualified samples were diluted in tris egg yolk glycerol (TEYG) extender containing different concentrations of k-carrageenan as 0 mg/mL (control), 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 1 mg/mL. Post-thaw assessment was done at 37°C after 24 h of storage, which showed a significant improvement (p < .05) in sperm viability, motility, membrane and acrosome integrity in an extender containing k-carrageenan at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL compared to control. It is concluded from the current study that the combination of glycerol and 0.5 mg/mL concentration of k-carrageenan improved the sperm post-thaw quality.

Digitalization and SMEs development in the context of sustainable development: A China perspective.

Worldwide economies are determined to achieve sustainable development. In this pursuit, the role of SMEs and ICT has emerged as an inevitable choice for sustainable development. The literature on the impact of SMEs and ICT on sustainable development, particularly in China's context, is scarce. Therefore, the analysis aims to investigate the impact of SMEs and ICT on sustainable development in China for the period of 1998-2020. We have applied the ARDL model for empirical analysis. The short and long-run estimates attached to SMEs are significant and positive, confirming that SMEs help to achieve sustainable development. Similarly, the estimates attached to ICT are positive and significant both in the short and long run, confirming the beneficial role of ICT in achieving sustainable development. The estimates attached to institutional quality and R&D control variables are positive and significant in the long run, but only R&D estimates are significant in the short run. In particular, digitalization and SMEs development provide a win-win situation for China to mitigate climate change in the long run and become more environmentally sustainable.

Characterization and in-vitro plant-based control of hindgut bacteria isolated from Odontotermes obesus Rambur (Termitidae) and Heterotermes indicola Wasmann (Rhinotermitidae).

Termites cause a serious menace to wooden structures all over the world. They rely mostly on entozoic fauna residing in their hindgut for the digestion of cellulosic and hemicellulosic materials. One of the ways to control termites is through their gut symbionts. The present study was designed to characterize the hindgut bacteria isolated from Odontotermes obesus and Heterotermes indicola. Furthermore, the growth inhibitory effect of eight tropical plant extracts was investigated to find out potential control agents for these bacterial isolates. The characterization of bacteria was carried out based on their morphology, Gram staining, biochemical and amplification of 16SrRNA gene. Amplified products were sequenced to confirm their relationship with bacterial isolates from termites of other regions. The growth inhibitory effect of ethanolic leaf extracts of eight plants was evaluated in an invitro agar well diffusion method. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of the most effective plant was carried out to learn about bioactive agents. The results confirmed the presence of five bacteria from each termite species. The Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Lysinibacillus fusiformis were common to both termites whereas Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus and Lysinibacillus macrolides were found in O. obesus only and H. indicola harbor Bacillus subtilis and Shigella sonnei in addition to common three ones. Among the plant extracts of Carica papaya, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Osmium basilicum, Grevillea robusta, Eucalyptus globulus, Pongamia pinnata, Mentha longifolia, and Melia azedarach, the G. robusta > E. camaldulensis > O. basilicum were found to have growth inhibitory effects with increasing concentrations from 100 to 2000 µg/mL. The biodiversity of the bacterial fauna is important for the biological control of termites. Leaf extracts of these medicinal plants can be used to control termite infestation in an environment-friendly manner to save huge economic loss.

A novel film based on a cellulose/sodium alginate/gelatin composite activated with an ethanolic fraction of Boswellia sacra oleo gum resin.

Boswellia sacra and its derivatives exhibit notable bioactive properties, which have been the subject of extensive scientific research; however, their potential applications in food packaging remain largely untapped. In the current study, cellulose, sodium alginate, and gelatin composite edible films were fabricated with the addition of different concentrations (0.2% and 0.3%) of the ethanolic fraction of Boswellia sacra oleo gum resin (BSOR). The resultant films were examined for their physical, chemical, mechanical, barrier, optical, and antioxidant properties. Moreover, the films were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to study the impact of incorporating BSOR on the morphological, crystalline, and chemical properties of the films. The addition of BSOR increased the film thickness (0.026-0.08 mm), water vapor permeability (0.210-0.619 (g.mm)/(m2.h.kPa), and the intensity of the yellow color (3.01-7.20) while reducing the values of both tensile strength (6.67-1.03 MPa) and elongation at break (83.50%-48.81%). SEM and FTIR analysis confirmed the interaction between the BSOR and film-forming components. The antioxidant properties of the edible films were significantly increased with the addition of BSOR. The comprehensive findings of the study demonstrated that BSOR possesses the potential to serve as an efficient natural antioxidant agent in the fabrication of edible films.

Crafting a powerful shield: Unveiling the potent anti-oxidant magic of ex-situ nanostructured Ag/WO3 composite.

The current study focuses the nanocomposites of Ag/WO3 was synthesized via hydrothermal method and extract of Aloe-vera gel was used. Various characterization techniques were used for the analysis of Ag/WO3 nanocomposites which includes SEM (scanning electron microscope), EDX (Energy dispersive spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared), UV (ultraviolet-visible-spectroscopy) to tell about elemental composition, shape and crystalline structure, band gap, functional group. The presence of composition of elements O, W, Ag in Ag/WO3 nanocomposites was confirmed through EDX spectrum. The hexagonal crystal structure and the border peaks in Ag/WO3 nanocomposites were examined through XRD spectra. The Anti-oxidant activity was synthesized by using (DPPH) free Radical in Ag/WO3 nanocomposites. The outcomes of present study exhibited an excellent anti-oxidant activity and also indicated the reduction of stabilized free radical DPPH analysis using Aloe vera extract. The result revealed that the anti-oxidant activity of Ag/WO3 nanocomposites is essential for biomedical application and various industries.

Association of insertion /deletion polymorphism of ace gene with essential hypertension in patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Objective &Background: The exact cause of hypertension is unknown in about 90 to 95% patients, known as essential hypertension. Genes may play a crucial role in the pathology of essential hypertension. Gene for angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is found on long arm of chromosome 17q23, where 287 base pair insertion or deletion (I/D) polymorphism may occur. This study was aimed to assess the association of I/D polymorphism of ACE gene with blood pressure (BP) in Patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). Methods: This Descriptive Cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st June 2021 to 30th September 2021 at Kuwait Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. The genomic DNA was extracted from lymphocytes and PCR was performed for identification of ACE I/D polymorphism. Results: Total 181 individuals (121 Hypertensive and 60 normal) were enrolled in the study. The measured systolic and diastolic BP in cases were 153.91mmHg±12.65 and 92.94mmHg±5.72, respectively while in control were 118.20±17.13 and 74.12mmHg±7.58, respectively. The Deletion Homozygous (DD), Insertion Homozygous (II) and Deletion and Insertion Heterozygous (DI) genotypes in hypertensive patients were 47 (38.84%), 17 (14.04%) and 57 (47.10%) respectively while in Control group the DD, II and DI were 4 (6.66%), 25 (41.66%) and 31 (51.66%) respectively. This study showed association of DD genotypes of the ACE gene with hypertension as compared to healthy individuals. Conclusion: Individuals with DD genotype may have association with hypertension. polymorphism of ACE gene was proved to be an important genetic marker for essential hypertension in Patients of KPK.

The physicochemical properties and molecular docking study of plasticized amphotericin B loaded sodium alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose, and gelatin-based films.

Plasticizers are employed to stabilize films by safeguarding their physical stability and avoiding the degradation of the loaded therapeutic drug during processing and storage. In the present study, the plasticizer effect (glycerol) was studied on bioadhesive films based on sodium alginate (SA), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and gelatin (GE) polymers loaded with amphotericin B (AmB). The main objective of the current study was to assess the morphological, mechanical, thermal, optical, and barrier properties of the films as a function of glycerol (Gly) concentration (0.5-1.5 %) using different techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Texture analyzer (TA), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The concentration increase of glycerol resulted in an increase in Water Vapor Permeability (WVP) (0.187-0.334), elongation at break (EAB) (0.88-35.48 %), thickness (0.032-0.065 mm) and moisture level (17.5-41.76 %) whereas opacity, tensile strength (TS) (16.81-0.86 MPa), and young's modulus (YM) (0.194-0.002 MPa) values decreased. Glycerol incorporation in the film-Forming solution decreased the brittleness and fragility of the films. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra showed that intermolecular hydrogen bonding occurred between glycerol and polymers in plasticized films compared to control films. Furthermore, molecular docking was applied to predict the binding interactions betweem AmB, CMC, gelatin, SA and glycerol, which further endorsed the stabilizing effects of glycerol in the complex formation between AmB, CMC, SA, and gelatin. The Findings of the current study demonstrated that this polymeric blend could be used to successfully prepare bioadhesive films with glycerol as a plasticizer.

Environmental governance-public supervision and participation nexus under state supervision system and carbon neutrality targets in China.

China is now experiencing severe environmental issues due to its rapid socio-economic advancement. Environmental governance is crucial to preserving China's rapidly degrading natural ecology. Public supervision and participation are important factors that effectively promote environmental quality. Therefore, this analysis primarily examines the relationship between China's public participation and environmental governance. Hence, the primary focus of the analysis is to investigate the asymmetric impact of public participation on environmental governance from 1996 to 2020. We have employed the nonlinear QARDL model that estimates the short- and long-run impact across different quantiles. The study's results support that long-run estimates for positive change in environmental NGOs (ENGOs) are significantly positive for almost all quantiles, while those for negative change in ENGOs are negative and have a significant impact at higher quantiles. In the short run, the estimates of positive change in ENGOs are positive and significant; however, the negative change in ENGOs does not significantly impact environmental governance at lower quantiles. The Wald test also confirms the asymmetric impact of ENGOs on environmental governance across various quantiles in short and long run. The findings of this analysis underscore the critical role of public supervision and participation in influencing environmental governance in China.

Effects of digitalization on energy security risk: do financial development and environmental trade matter?

Trade in environmental goods and financial development may harness factors such as green investment, technological development, and renewable energy production, which are crucial in reducing energy security risks by diversifying energy sources. However, not many empirics have shed light on the impact of digitalization, environmental trade, and financial development on energy security risks in top energy-consuming countries. To fill this vacuum, this study intends to investigate the influence of digitalization, environmental trade, and financial development on energy security risk in top energy-consuming countries from 2003 to 2021. The study employs the 2SLS and GMM estimates for empirical estimation of top energy-consuming developed and developing economies. The results show that ICT negatively affects energy security risks in developed economies. The findings of the analysis also suggest that environmental trade and financial development cause energy security risks to be reduced in both developed and developing economies. Likewise, the energy security risks in both developed and developing nations are mitigated by ICT, GDP, carbon emissions, and renewable energy production. In contrast, the energy security risks are escalated by the rise in natural resource rents. In order to fully capitalize on the potential advantages of these elements and eventually ensure a more sustainable and secure energy future, governments, businesses, and financial institutions must work together.

Management of Rectal Wall Abscess: A Rare Case Report.

A 34-year-old male presented with spontaneous rectal pain. He was diagnosed with a posterior rectal wall abscess 7 cm proximal to the anal verge that was confirmed on an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) pelvis. This abscess was drained through a transrectal route. Rectal wall abscess is an exceedingly rare pathology compared to perianal abscess; therefore, this case highlights the key aspects of its management.

Internet financial services, environmental technology, and happiness: Implications for sustainable development.

Integrating the internet and financial services gives people the luxury to reduce financial stress and anxiety by giving consumers more power over their financial situation. Likewise, the adoption of environmental technologies helps improve environmental quality, which positively impacts mental and physical health and thus increases the sense of well-being and happiness. Therefore, the main focus of the study is to analyze the influence of financial services and environmental technologies on happiness. For analyzing the short and long-run impacts of financial services and environmental technologies on happiness, we have utilized the ARDL model and QARDL models. The findings of the ARDL model confirm the positive influence of financial services, environmental technologies, national income, financial development, and education on happiness in the short and long term. Similarly, the QARDL model also suggests the favorable long-run effects of financial services and environmental technologies on happiness at most quantiles. The long-run Wald test confirms the asymmetric influence of all variables on happiness, while in the short-term, excluding education, all other variables exert asymmetric impacts on happiness. Thus, to promote happiness, policymakers should try to increase the role of internet-based financial services and increases investment in research and development activities to enhance environment-related technologies. However, the study is limited to China, it should be expanded to other regions.