Occurrence of fungal microbial contamination in drinking water of megacity of Karachi (Pakistan) and their physico-chemical control.

The water quality in Karachi (Pakistan) is uncertain due to the occurrence of fungi and other microorganisms. A total of twenty-five water samples were collected from public places, educational institutes, hospitals, water supply systems and surface water of the canal of Karachi (Pakistan). The different fungal species including Acremonium sp., Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. sulphureus, Cladosporium sp., Fusarium sp., Clonostachys (Gliocladium) sp., Macrophomina phaseolina, Mucor racemosus, Paecilomyces sp. Penicillium chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P. commune, P. expansum, Rhizoctonia sp. and Stachybotrys sp. were isolated from these drinking water samples. However, the bacteria, microalgae and some other microorganisms were present in low concentrations. The reason for fungi infection and production of mycotoxicity depends upon various factors and the availability of their nutrients in filtration plants. The major threats to human health are fungal mycotoxicity which is responsible for carcinogenic and other lethal diseases. Mostly, the genus Aspergillus was dominated and isolated with a maximum of 88-98% of occurrence in the different samples of drinking water by the direct plate-spread method. For the control of fungi, various Physico-chemical coagulation treatments were used, but Potassium alum, clay pot, and hot water treatment disinfected effectively 69-70% removal of the fungi and its spore or mycelia from the water. In addition, it is concluded that drinking water purifications such as chlorination, filtration and lime did not eliminate thermophilic fungal spores or mycelia including Penicillium, Paecilomyces and Mucor from the water.

Maximizing solar power generation through conventional and digital MPPT techniques: a comparative analysis.

A substantial level of significance has been placed on renewable energy systems, especially photovoltaic (PV) systems, given the urgent global apprehensions regarding climate change and the need to cut carbon emissions. One of the main concerns in the field of PV is the ability to track power effectively over a range of factors. In the context of solar power extraction, this research paper performs a thorough comparative examination of ten controllers, including both conventional maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controllers and artificial intelligence (AI) controllers. Various factors, such as voltage, current, power, weather dependence, cost, complexity, response time, periodic tuning, stability, partial shading, and accuracy, are all intended to be evaluated by the study. It is aimed to provide insight into how well each controller performs in various circumstances by carefully examining these broad parameters. The main goal is to identify and recommend the best controller based on their performance. It is notified that, conventional techniques like INC, P&O, INC-PSO, P&O-PSO, achieved accuracies of 94.3, 97.6, 98.4, 99.6 respectively while AI based techniques Fuzzy-PSO, ANN, ANFIS, ANN-PSO, PSO, and FLC achieved accuracies of 98.6, 98, 98.6, 98.8, 98.2, 98 respectively. The results of this study add significantly to our knowledge of the applicability and effectiveness of both AI and traditional MPPT controllers, which will help the solar industry make well-informed choices when implementing solar energy systems.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid-Carboxymethyl Chitosan Polymeric Micelles to Improve the Solubility and Oral Bioavailability of Paclitaxel.

Oral delivery, the most common method of therapeutic administration, has two significant obstacles: drug solubility and permeability. The challenges of current oral medicine delivery are being tackled through an emerging method that uses structures called polymeric micelles. In the present study, polymeric micelles were developed using conjugates of linoleic acid-carboxymethyl chitosan (LA-CMCS) for the oral delivery of paclitaxel (PCL). The developed micelles were evaluated by particle size, zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). When PCL was contained within micelles, its solubility increased by almost 13.65 times (around 60 µg/mL). The micelles' zeta potentials were -29 mV, their polydispersity indices were 0.023, and their particle diameters were 93 nm. Micelles showed PCL loading and entrapment efficiencies of 67% and 61%, respectively. The sustained release qualities of the PCL release data from micelles were good. In comparison to the pure PCL suspension, the permeability of the PCL from micelles was 2.2 times higher. The pharmacokinetic data revealed that PCL with LA-CMCS micelles had a relative bioavailability of 239.17%, which was much greater than the PCL in the suspension. The oral bioavailability of PCL was effectively increased by LA-CMCS micelles according to an in vivo study on animals. The polymer choice, maybe through improved permeability, plays an essential role when assessing oral bioavailability enhancement and solubility improvement (13.65 times). The outcomes demonstrated that PCL's solubility and pharmacokinetics were improved in the micelles of the LA-CMCS conjugate.

Managing the low carbon transition pathways through solid waste electricity.

The potential of solid waste as an energy source is clear, owing to its wide availability and renewable properties, which provide a critical answer for energy security. This can be especially effective in reducing the environmental impact of fossil fuels. Countries that rely heavily on coal should examine alternatives such as electricity from solid waste to provide a constant energy supply while also contributing to atmospheric restoration. In this regards, Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) is used for simulation the entire energy system in Pakistan and forecasted its capital cost and future CO2 emissions in relation to the use of renewable and fossil fuel resources under the different growth rates of solid waste projects like 20%, 30% and 40% for the study period 2023-2053. The results revealed that, 1402.97 TWh units of energy are generated to meet the total energy demand of 1193.93 TWh until 2053. The share of solid waste based electricity in total energy mix is increasing from a mere 0.81% in 2023 to around 9.44% by 2053 under the 20% growth rate, which then increase to 39.67% by 2053 under the 30% growth rate and further increases to 78.33% by 2053 under the 40% growth rate. It is suggested that 40% growth rate for solid waste based electricity projects is suitable for Pakistan until 2053 because under this condition, renewable sources contributes 95.2% and fossil fuels contributed 4.47% in the total energy mix of Pakistan. Hence, CO2 emissions are reduced from 148.26 million metric tons to 35.46 million metric tons until 2053 but capital cost is increased from 13.23 b$ in 2023 to 363.11 b$ by 2053.

Cellulolytic and Ethanologenic Evaluation of Heterotermes indicola's Gut-Associated Bacterial Isolates.

Cellulose is the basic component of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) making it a suitable substrate for bioethanol fermentation. Cellulolytic and ethanologenic bacteria possess cellulases that convert cellulose to glucose, which in turn yields ethanol subsequently. Heterotermes indicola is a subterranean termite that causes destructive damage by consuming wooden structures of infrastructure, LCB products, etc. Prospectively, the study envisioned the screening of cellulolytic and ethanologenic bacteria from the termite gut. Twenty six bacterial strains (H1-H26) based on varied colonial morphologies were isolated. Bacterial cellulolytic activity was tested biochemically. Marked gas production in the form of bubbles (0.1-4 cm) in Durham tubes was observed in H3, H7, H13, H15, H17, H21, and H22. Sugar degradation of all isolates was indicated by pink to maroon color development with the tetrazolium salt. Hallow zones (0.42-11 mm) by Congo red staining was exhibited by all strains except H2, H7, H8, and H19. Among the 26 bacterial isolates, 12 strains were identified as efficient cellulolytic bacteria. CMCase activity and ethanol titer of all isolates varied from 1.30 ± 0.03 (H13) to 1.83 ± 0.01 (H21) umol/mL/min and 2.36 ± 0.01 (H25) to 7.00 ± 0.01 (H21) g/L, respectively. Likewise, isolate H21 exhibited an ethanol yield of 0.40 ± 0.10 g/g with 78.38 ± 2.05% fermentation efficiency. Molecular characterization of four strains, Staphylococcus sp. H13, Acinetobacter baumanni H17, Acinetobacter sp. H21, and Acinetobacter nosocomialis H22, were based on the maximum cellulolytic index and the ethanol yield. H. indicola harbor promising and novel bacteria with a natural cellulolytic tendency for efficient bioconversion of LCB to value-added products. Hence, the selected cellulolytic bacteria can become an excellent addition for use in enzyme purification, composting, and production of biofuel at large.

A novel solution to optimal power flow problems using composite differential evolution integrating effective constrained handling techniques.

Optimal power flow is a complex and highly non-linear problem in which steady-state parameters are needed to find a network's efficient and economical operation. In addition, the difficulty of the Optimal power flow problem becomes enlarged when new constraints are added, and it is also a challenging task for the power system operator to solve the constrained Optimal power flow problems efficiently. Therefore, this paper presents a constrained composite differential evolution optimization algorithm to search for the optimum solution to Optimal power flow problems. In the last few decades, numerous evolutionary algorithm implementations have emerged due to their superiority in solving Optimal power flow problems while considering various objectives such as cost, emission, power loss, etc. evolutionary algorithms effectively explore the solution space unconstrainedly, often employing the static penalty function approach to address the constraints and find solutions for constrained Optimal power flow problems. It is a drawback that combining evolutionary algorithms and the penalty function approach requires several penalty parameters to search the feasible space and discard the infeasible solutions. The proposed a constrained composite differential evolution algorithm combines two effective constraint handling techniques, such as feasibility rule and ɛ constraint methods, to search in the feasible space. The proposed approaches are recognized on IEEE 30, 57, and 118-bus standard test systems considering 16 study events of single and multi-objective optimization functions. Ultimately, simulation results are examined and compared with the many recently published techniques of Optimal power flow solutions owing to show the usefulness and performance of the proposed a constrained composite differential evolution algorithm.

Toxicological assessment of bromoxynil and 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide in combination on Cirrhinus mrigala using multiple biomarker approach.

The widespread application of herbicides raises concerns about their impact on non-target aquatic organisms. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of a commercially available herbicide formulation containing Bromoxynil+MCPA (2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid) on Cirrhinus mrigala (economically significant fish). A total of 210 juvenile fish were subjected to a triplicate experimental setup, with 70 fish allocated to each replicate, exposed to seven different concentrations of herbicide: 0 mg/L, 0.133 mg/L, 0.266 mg/L, 0.4 mg/L, 0.5 mg/L, 0.66 mg/L, and 0.8 mg/L, respectively, for a duration of 96 h. The median lethal concentration (LC50) was determined to be 0.4 mg/L. Significant hematological alterations were observed, including decreases in RBC counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and lymphocyte counts, along with an increase in erythrocyte indices. Biochemical analysis revealed elevated levels of neutrophils, WBCs, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, ALT, AST, ALP, and glucose in treated groups. Morphological abnormalities in erythrocytes and histopathological changes in gills, liver, and kidneys were noted. Pathological alterations in gills, liver and kidneys including epithelial cell uplifting, lamellar fusion, hepatolysis, and renal tubule degeneration were observed. Oxidative stress biomarkers such as TBARS (Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance), ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species), and POD (Peroxides) activity increased, while antioxidant enzymatic activities decreased as toxicant doses increased from low to high concentrations. The study reveals that Bromoxynil+MCPA significantly disrupts physiological and hematobiochemical parameters in Cirrhinus mrigala, which highlights the substantial aquatic risks. In conclusion, the herbicide formulation induced significant alterations in various fish biomarkers, emphasizing their pivotal role in assessing the environmental impact of toxicity. This multi-biomarker approach offers valuable insights regarding the toxicological effects, thereby contributing substantially to the comprehensive evaluation of environmental hazards.

Realization of either physisorption or chemisorption of 2H-tetraphenylporphyrin on the Cu(111) from density functional theory.

The adsorption of organic molecules to surfaces is a central issue to achieve fully-functional molecular devices, for which porphyrins are well-studied due to their chemical stability and functional diversity. Herein, we investigate both the physical and the chemical adsorption of the free-base tetraphenylporphyrin 2H-TPP on the Cu(111) surface within the framework of density functional theory and find that the most stable physisorbed configuration is more weakly bound by -0.31 eV than the chemisorbed configuration. We use the electron localization function to investigate the difference in binding mechanisms between strong physisorption and weak chemisorption. We have computed a reaction barrier of 0.12 eV in going from physical binding to chemical bonding to the surface, and a barrier of 50 meV in going between neighboring physical binding sites. Our results support the possibility of realizing free-base porphyrins either physisorbed or chemisorbed on Cu(111) depending on the deposition procedure and experimental conditions.

Effect of Temperature and Alkali Solution to Activate Diethyl Carbonate for Improving Rheological Properties of Modified Hydroxyethyl Methyl Cellulose.

The applications of cellulose ethers in the petroleum industry represent various limitations in maintaining their rheological properties with an increase in both concentration and temperature. This paper proposed a new method to improve the rheological properties of hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC) by incorporating diethyl carbonate (DEC) as a transesterification agent and alkali base solutions. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed the grafting of both composites onto the HEMC surface. The addition of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) improved the stability of the polymeric solution as observed from ζ-potential measurement. Shear viscosity and frequency sweep experiments were conducted at concentrations of 0.25-1 wt % at ambient and elevated temperatures ranging from 80-110 °C using a rheometer. In the results, the increase in viscosity at specific times and temperatures indicated the activation of DEC through the saponification reactions with alkali solutions. All polymeric solutions exhibited shear-thinning behavior and were fitted well by the Cross model. NaOH-based modified solution exhibited low shear viscosity compared to the DEC-HEMC solution at ambient temperature. However, at 110 °C, its viscosity exceeded that of the DEC-HEMC solution due to the activation of DEC. In frequency sweep analysis, the loss modulus (G″) was greater than the storage modulus (G') at lower frequencies and vice versa at higher frequencies. This signifies the viscoelastic behavior of modified solutions at 0.50 wt % and higher concentrations. The flow point (G' = G″) shifted to a low frequency, indicating the increasing dominance of elastic behavior with the rising temperature. At 110 °C, the NaOH-based modified solution exhibited both viscous and elastic behavior, confirming the solution's thermal stability and flowability. In conclusion, modified HEMC solution was found to be effective in controlling viscosity under ambient conditions, enhancing solubility, and improving thermal stability. This modified composite could play a significant role in optimizing viscoelastic properties and fluid performance under challenging wellbore conditions.

Corrigendum: Unveiling the predictive power: a comprehensive study of machine learning model for anticipating chronic kidney disease.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/frai.2023.1339988.].

Effects of chloride on corrosion scale compositions and heavy metal release in drinking water distribution systems.

Variations in water chemistry may lead to the release of harmful heavy metals in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs). In this study, the effects of chloride on the release of heavy metals such as Fe, Mn, As, Cr, Mo, V, Sr, and Co were examined using steel and cast iron pipe loops. After chloride was added, the relative contents of goethite (α-FeOOH), lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH), and siderite (FeCO3) in pipe scales increased, but the contents of magnetite (Fe3O4) decreased. The most prevalent compounds were α-FeOOH and γ-FeOOH. When the chloride levels were increased, the effluent concentrations of Fe, Mn, As, Cr, Mo, V, Sr, and Co significantly increased. These heavy metals were released presumably because of the destabilization and dissolution of corrosion scales induced by chloride and adsorption site competition. Strong positive correlations were also observed between Fe&Mn, Fe/Mn&As, Fe/Mn&Cr, Fe/Mn&Mo, Fe/Mn&V, Fe/Mn&Sr, and Fe/Mn&Co, indicating the co-release of Fe, Mn, and other metals. This study may be helpful for the potential strategies on avoidance of heavy metal release and improvement of water supply security.

Thyroid status in pregnancy: Comparison of thyroid function abnormalities in women with and without a history of miscarriage or stillbirth.

Objective: To evaluate thyroid function tests (TFTs) during pregnancy in women with previous history of miscarriage or stillbirth. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Endocrinology, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from February 2021 to March 2022. All multigravida women attending the antenatal clinics were included using consecutive sampling. These women were placed into two groups, Group-A comprised of women with no prior history of miscarriages or stillbirths, and those with a history of foetal death during previous pregnancies were assigned Group-B. Free T4, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies were measured and the former two were used to label patients with thyroid dysfunction. Results: A total of 139 multigravida women were included in the study. About 43% of the women had a history of miscarriages or stillbirths. Thyroid dysfunction was observed overall in 36.69 % women, of whom 25.18% had sub-clinical hypothyroidism, 6.47% had hypothyroidism and 5.04 % were sub-clinical hyperthyroid. Women in Group-B had more thyroid functions abnormalities compared to Group-A (p<0.05). Moreover, there was significant difference in median TSH and freeT4 between the groups (p<0.001). Overall, thyroid dysfunction was found in 66.67% of patients who had a history of foetal death. Conclusions: In pregnant women with a history of miscarriage or abortion, thyroid functions abnormalities are common therefore routine thyroid testing is advised in pregnant women to prevent adverse perinatal outcomes.

The Influence of Substrate on the Optical Properties of Gold Nanoslits.

Nanoslits have various applications, including localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-based nanodevices, optical biosensors, superfocusing, high-efficiency refractive index sensors and chip-based protein detection. In this study, the effect of substrates on the optical properties of gold nanoslits placed in free space is discussed; for this purpose, glass BK7 and Al2O3 are used as substrates and the wavelength of incident light is supposed to be 650 nm. The optical properties, power flow and electric field enhancement for gold nanoslits are investigated by using the finite element method (FEM) in COMSOL Multiphysics software. The effect of polarization of an incident electromagnetic wave as it propagates from a gold nanoslit is also analyzed. As special case, the effect of glass and alumina substrate on magnetic field, power flow and electric field enhancement is discussed. The goal of this research is to investigate the phenomenon of power flow and electric field enhancement. The study of power flow in gold nanoslits provides valuable insights into the behavior of light at the nanoscale and offers opportunities for developing novel applications in the field of nanophotonics and plasmonics. The consequences of this study show the significance of gold nanoslits as optical nanosensors.

Endoscopic Therapy of Gastric Varices: Safety and Efficacy of N-Butyl-2-Cyanoacrylate Injection.

Background Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common medical emergency that results in significant morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic burden. Both types of cardio-fundal varices, gastro-esophageal varix 2 (GOV2) and isolated gastric varices type 1 (IGV1), can cause massive bleeding and often are difficult to treat compared to the other types of gastric varices. Endoscopic variceal band ligation (EVBL) is a less effective treatment modality for gastric varices than esophageal varices and is associated with high re-bleeding rates. N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl) injection is an effective and potential treatment option for fundal varices. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection therapy in cardio-fundal varices. Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection therapy for fundal varices. Methods This retrospective observational cohort study was conducted at the Department of Gastroenterology, Allied Teaching Hospital, Gujranwala, over one year. All patients, irrespective of age and gender, presenting with UGIB and in whom fundal varices were diagnosed on gastroscopy followed by n-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate injection therapy were included in this study. The efficacy and safety of Histoacryl therapy were assessed by analyzing successful hemostasis, frequency of re-bleeding, obliteration, and regression of fundal varices on repeat endoscopy. Adverse events such as re-bleeding and mortality related to fundal variceal treatment were documented. Results A total of 60 patients were included in the study. Of these, 70% had IGV1, while the remaining 30% had GOV2. Hemostasis was achieved in 100% of patients following n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection. Successful obliteration with regression of varices was observed in 91.3% of patients. Various adverse events were observed, with abdominal pain being the most common observed complication in 18.3% of participants. However, only 8.3% of participants developed re-bleeding due to ulcer formation at the injection site, and no death occurred directly due to fundal variceal treatment. Conclusion N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection therapy is a lifesaving, effective, and safe intervention for controlling bleeding from cardio-fundal varices, leading to improved health status and a consequent decrease in episodes of recurrent bleeding. Its side effects are few and infrequent. However, larger-scale studies are needed to further evaluate the safety and effectiveness of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection therapy. These studies will be crucial in establishing comprehensive guidelines for the management of fundal varices.

V4 C3 MXene: a Type-II Nodal Line Semimetal with Potential as High-Performing Anode Material for Mg-Ion Battery.

We have used density functional theory simulations to explore the topological characteristics of a new MXene-like material, V4 C3 , and its oxide counterpart, assessing their potential as anode materials for Mg-ion batteries. Our research reveals that V4 C3 monolayer is a topological type-II nodal line semimetal, protected by time reversal and spatial inversion symmetries. This type-II nodal line is marked by unique drumhead-like edge states that appear either inside or outside the loop circle, contingent upon the edge ending. Intriguingly, even with an increase in metallicity due to oxygen functionalization, the topological features of V4 C3 remain intact. Consequently, the monolayer V4 C3 has a topologically enhanced electrical conductivity that amplifies further upon oxygen functionalization. During the charging phase, a remarkable storage concentration led to a peak specific capacity of 894.73 mAh g-1 for V4 C3 , which only decreases to 789.33 mAh g-1 for V4 C3 O2 . When compared to V2 C, V4 C3 displays a significantly lower specific capacity loss due to functionalization, demonstrating its superior electrochemical properties. Additionally, V4 C3 and V4 C3 O2 exhibit moderate average open-circuit voltages (0.54 V for V4 C3 and 0.58 V for V4 C3 O2 ) and energy barriers for intercalation migration (ranging between 0.29-0.63 eV), which are desirable for anode materials. Thus, our simulation results support V4 C3 potential as an efficient anode material for Mg-ion batteries.

Mineral Solubilizing Rhizobacterial Strains Mediated Biostimulation of Rhodes Grass Seedlings.

Minerals play a dynamic role in plant growth and development. However, most of these mineral nutrients are unavailable to plants due to their presence in fixed forms, which causes significant losses in crop production. An effective strategy to overcome this challenge is using mineral solubilizing bacteria, which can convert insoluble forms of minerals into soluble ones that plants can quickly assimilate, thus enhancing their availability in nutrient-depleted soils. The main objective of the present study was to isolate and characterize mineral solubilizing rhizobacteria and to assess their plant growth-promoting potential for Rhodes grass. Twenty-five rhizobacterial strains were isolated on a nutrient agar medium. They were characterized for solubilization of insoluble minerals (phosphate, potassium, zinc, and manganese), indole acetic acid production, enzymatic activities, and various morphological traits. The selected strains were also evaluated for their potential to promote the growth of Rhodes grass seedlings. Among tested strains, eight strains demonstrated strong qualitative and quantitative solubilization of insoluble phosphate. Strain MS2 reported the highest phosphate solubilization index, phosphate solubilization efficiency, available phosphorus concentration, and reduction in medium pH. Among tested strains, 75% were positive for zinc and manganese solubilization, and 37.5% were positive for potassium solubilization. Strain MS2 demonstrated the highest quantitative manganese solubilization, while strains MS7 and SM4 reported the highest solubilization of zinc and potassium through acidifying their respective media. The strain SM4 demonstrated the most increased IAA production in the presence and absence of L-tryptophan. The majority of strains were positive for various enzymes, including urease, catalase protease, and amylase activities. However, these strains were negative for coagulase activity except strains SM7 and MS7. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, six strains, namely, SM2, SM4, SM5, MS1, MS2, and MS4, were identified as Bacillus cereus, while strains SM7 and MS7 were identified as Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Staphylococcus haemolyticus. These strains significantly improved growth attributes of Rhodes grass, such as root length, shoot length, and root and shoot fresh and dry biomasses compared to the uninoculated control group. The present study highlights the significance of mineral solubilizing and enzyme-producing rhizobacterial strains as potential bioinoculants to enhance Rhodes grass growth under mineral-deficient conditions sustainably.

Salicylic Acid- and Potassium-Enhanced Resilience of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) against Salinity and Cadmium Stress through Mitigating Ionic and Oxidative Stress.

Salinity and cadmium (Cd) contamination of soil are serious environmental issues threatening food security. This study investigated the role of salicylic acid (SA) and potassium (K) in enhancing the resilience of quinoa against the combined stress of salinity and Cd. Quinoa plants were grown under NaCl (0, 200 mM) and Cd (0, 100 µM) stress, with the addition of 0.1 mM SA and 10 mM K, separately or in combination. The joint stress of Cd and NaCl caused >50% decrease in plant growth, chlorophyll contents, and stomatal conductance compared to the control plants. The higher accumulation of Na and Cd reduced the uptake of K in quinoa tissues. The joint stress of salinity and Cd caused an 11-fold increase in hydrogen peroxide and 13-fold increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances contents, and caused a 61% decrease in membrane stability. An external supply of 0.1 mM SA and 10 mM K helped plants to better adapt to salinity and Cd stress with less of a reduction in plant biomass (shoot 19% and root 24%) and less accumulation of Na and Cd in plant tissues. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were enhanced by 11-fold, 10-fold, 7.7-fold, and 7-fold, respectively, when SA and K were applied together to the plants subjected to the joint stress of Cd and salinity. Based on the values of the bioconcentration factor (>1), the translocation factor (<1), and the higher tolerance index, it was clear that Cd-contaminated, salty soils could be stabilized with quinoa under the combined supply of SA and K.

Tobramycin-loaded nanoparticles of thiolated chitosan for ocular drug delivery: Preparation, mucoadhesion and pharmacokinetic evaluation.

The present work aimed to develop nanoparticles of tobramycin (TRM) using thiolated chitosan (TCS) in order to improve the mucoadhesion, antibacterial effect and pharmacokinetics. The nanoparticles were evaluated for their compatibility, thermal stability, particle size, zeta potential, mucoadhesion, drug release, kinetics of TRM release, corneal permeation, toxicity and ocular irritation. The thiolation of chitosan was confirmed by 1H NMR and FTIR, which showed peaks at 6.6 ppm and 1230 cm-1, respectively. The nanoparticles had a diameter of 73 nm, a negative zeta potential (-21 mV) and a polydispersity index of 0.15. The optimized formulation, NT8, exhibited the highest values of mucoadhesion (7.8 ± 0.541h), drug loading (87.45 ± 1.309%), entrapment efficiency (92.34 ± 2.671%), TRM release (>90%) and corneal permeation (85.56%). The release pattern of TRM from the developed formulations was fickian diffusion. TRM-loaded nanoparticles showed good antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The optimized formulation NT8 (0.1% TRM) greatly increased the AUC(0-∞) (1.5-fold) while significantly reducing the clearance (5-fold) compared to 0.3% TRM. Pharmacokinetic parameters indicated improved ocular retention and bioavailability of TRM loaded nanoparticles. Our study demonstrated that the TRM-loaded nanoparticles had improved mucoadhesion and pharmacokinetics and a suitable candidate for effective treatment of ocular bacterial infections.

Structural, electronic, intermolecular interaction, reactivity, vibrational spectroscopy, charge transfer, Hirshfeld surface analysis, pharmacological and hydropathy plot on 5-Bromo nicotinic acid - Antiviral study (Hepatitis A, B, and C).

The therapeutic properties of 5-Bromonicotinatic acid (5BNA) were studied for antiviral illnesses like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C and the influence of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing properties of functional groups on the nicotinic acid was evaluated and represented in this study using the DFT approach. The molecular parameters were determined for both gases as well as for various solvent phases. The reactive areas in the compound are examined utilising Fukui analysis. The molecular interactions are accomplished by recognising the different types of bonding found in the compound using the AIM, ELF, LOL, RDG and IRI. Solvation investigations were demonstrated to have an influence on molecular orbital energy, ESP, UV-Vis and NLO analyses. Electron-hole, NBO and Hirshfeld investigations are used to investigate the transfer of charges and interactions inside the molecule. The method of vibrational spectroscopy (IR and Raman) is used to differentiate and identify the various types of vibrations displayed by the compound. The hydropathy plots for the proteins 2A4O, 6CWD and 2OC8 associated with Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C illustrate the disquiet and attraction of the amino acids towards the water.

Pharmacological Potential of Hippophae rhamnoides L. Nano-Emulsion for Management of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Animals' Model: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

The most common female endocrinopathy, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), generally affects women of childbearing age. Hippophae rhamnoides L. has been traditionally used to improve menstrual cyclicity. Gas chromatography by flame ionization detection analysis showed that it contained various phytoconstituents such as omega-3 fatty acid, phytosterols, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid. H. rhamnoides L. (HR) nano-emulsion was also formulated. HR and its encapsulated nano-emulsion (HRNE) were evaluated for the treatment of PCOS. Thirty-five healthy female adult albino rats were acquired and divided into seven groups (n = 5). Letrozole (1 mg/kg) was used for 5 weeks to induce the disease. To confirm disease (PCOS) induction, the animals were weighed weekly and their vaginal smears were analyzed daily under a microscope. After PCOS induction, animals were treated with metformin, HR, and HRNE with two different doses (0.5/kg and 1 g/kg, p.o.) for 5 weeks. At the end of the treatment, animals were euthanized, and blood was collected for hormonal assessment, lipid profiling, and liver functioning test assessment. Both the ovaries were preserved for histopathology and liver for the purpose of assessment of antioxidant potential. The results revealed that HR and HRNE at both doses improved the hormonal imbalance; follicle-stimulating hormone, estrogen, and progesterone levels are increased, while luteinizing hormone surge and testosterone level are controlled. Insulin sensitivity is improved. Ovarian histopathology showed that normal ovarian echotexture is restored with corpus luteum and mature and developing follicles. HR and HRNE also improved the lipid profile and decreased lipid peroxidation (MDA) with improved antioxidant markers (SOD, CAT, and GSH). Results were statistically analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and were considered significant only if p < 0.05. In conclusion, it can be postulated that H. rhamnoides L. proved effective in the management of PCOS and its nano-emulsion effects were statistically more significant, which might be due to better bioavailability.