Evaluation of groundwater quality in communities near Sokoban Wood Village.

Groundwater is vital for drinking, agriculture, and domestic use in Sokoban Wood Village, Ghana, but concerns exist about its quality. This study assessed the suitability of 20 groundwater samples for domestic purposes. The study was carried out in 2023. We collected samples from boreholes and hand-dug wells using standard methods, analyzing them for various physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, nitrates, fluorides, and heavy metals). The microbiological analysis assessed fecal coliforms and E. Coli to identify microbial contamination. Established methodologies were used to evaluate potential health risks (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic) associated with heavy metals. The Water Quality Index (WQI), Hazard Potential Index (HPI), and Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI) provided a comprehensive water quality evaluation. The results revealed that the water fell below the recommended WHO pH range for drinking water. While most other parameters and heavy metals fell within WHO guidelines, 25 % of the samples contained fecal coliforms and E. Coli, indicating ongoing microbial contamination. The overall cancer risk was low for all age groups. Although some parameters met WHO standards, the WQI classified 20 % of the samples as not of good quality. Despite this, the HPI and HEI (-4.62 and 0.001) suggested generally good water quality based on heavy metal content. In conclusion, despite some positive indicators, acidic water and microbial contamination raise concerns. Regular monitoring and potential treatment measures are crucial to ensure safe drinking water for the Sokoban Wood Village community.

Solventless Synthesis of Zinc Sulphide Nanoparticles from Zinc Bis(diethyldithiocarbamate) as a Single Source Precursor.

This study explores the synthesis of nanoparticles through the thermal decomposition of single-source precursors, a method gaining popularity due to its low cost, minimal environmental toxicity, rapidity, scalability, and the ability to form nanoparticles with few defects. Zinc ethyl carbamate was synthesized and characterized using 1H NMR and infrared spectroscopy. Its purity was confirmed through microelemental analysis and melting point determination. The melting point of the complex was determined to be 165 °C. The thermogravimetric analyses indicated a one-step decomposition of zinc ethyl carbamate with a decomposition onset of of 200 °C, yielding a stable ZnS residue. Further thermal decomposition led to the formation of wurtzite phase ZnS nanoparticles, as evidenced by XRD. SEM micrographs displayed mixed spherical, and cubic unevenly sized, polydispersed nanoparticles, while EDX revealed approximately a 1 : 1 Zn to S ratio. Estimated band gap from the Tauc's plot gave 3.93 eV and 3.42 eV for the nanoparticles synthesized at 300 and 400 °C respectively. The wide difference in the band gaps may be as a result of the larger particles observed at 400 °C and the deformations in the sample as observed in the SEM.

Synthetic and Naturally Occurring Heterocyclic Anticancer Compounds with Multiple Biological Targets.

Cancer is a complex group of diseases initiated by abnormal cell division with the potential of spreading to other parts of the body. The advancement in the discoveries of omics and bio- and cheminformatics has led to the identification of drugs inhibiting putative targets including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family receptors, fibroblast growth factors (FGF), platelet derived growth factors (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), thymidine phosphorylase (TP), and neuropeptide Y4 (NY4), amongst others. Drug resistance, systemic toxicity, and drug ineffectiveness for various cancer chemo-treatments are widespread. Due to this, efficient therapeutic agents targeting two or more of the putative targets in different cancer cells are proposed as cutting edge treatments. Heterocyclic compounds, both synthetic and natural products, have, however, contributed immensely to chemotherapeutics for treatments of various diseases, but little is known about such compounds and their multimodal anticancer properties. A compendium of heterocyclic synthetic and natural product multitarget anticancer compounds, their IC50, and biological targets of inhibition are therefore presented in this review.