Elucidating the Mechanism of Copper-Induced Photoluminescence Quenching in 2-Phenylbenzimidazole-5-Sulfonic Acid.

To explore the possible impact of 2-Phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid (PBSA) on the function of a sunscreen, in this work we investigate the binding of copper metal ions (Cu2+) to PBSA. Due to the existence of an intrinsic interaction phenomenon between Cu2+ ions and PBSA molecules, the photoluminescence (PL) quenching arises owing to the charge transfer from PBSA to Cu2+ ions. The mechanism of fluorescence quenching is probed experimentally following excitation at 306 nm by evaluating various quenching parameters with the help of the Stern-Volmer plot. Through the assessment of the values of the Stern-Volmer constant ( K SV = 45.2 M - 1 ) and bimolecular quenching rate constant ( k q = 0.77 × 10 10 M - 1 . s - 1 ), it is deduced that the dynamic mode of PL quenching is operative between PBSA and Cu2+ ions. We evaluate the number of binding sites (n = 1) that advocate the presence of a single binding site in PBSA for Cu2+ ions. The numerical value of standard Gibbs free energy change, Δ G o ~ -27.485 kJ.mol-1 implies the spontaneous binding between Cu2+ ions and PBSA molecules. The results obtained give an insight into the mechanism of metal-induced PL quenching of water soluble PBSA sunscreen.

Probing the Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Dynamics in Colloidal Donor-Acceptor Quantum Dots Assemblies.

In this article, we report the synthesis of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) by hydrothermal method and surface modified CdS quantum dots (QDs) via the colloidal method and the fabrication of their dyad. The CdS QDs functionalized by mercaptoacetic acid (MAA) attach to the GQDs via electrostatic interactions. Spectral overlapping between the emission spectrum of GQDs and the absorption spectrum of CdS QDs allows efficient Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from GQDs to the CdS QDs in the GQDs-CdS QDs dyads. The magnitude of FRET efficiency (E) and the rate of energy transfer (kE) assessed by the photoluminescence (PL) decay kinetics are ~61.84% and ⁓3.8 × 108 s- 1, respectively. These high values of FRET efficiency and energy transfer rate can be assigned to the existence of strong electrostatic interactions between GQDs and CdS QDs, which arise due to the presence of polar functionalities on the surface of both GQDs and CdS QDs. The understanding of energy transfer in the luminescent donor-acceptor FRET system is of significant importance and the practical implications of such FRET systems could overall improve the efficiency of photovoltaics, sensing, imaging and optoelectronic devices.

Tuning charge transfer efficiency by functionalizing ligands in FAPbBr3 nanocrystals and graphene heterostructures.

The combination of halide perovskite NCs with graphene to design heterostructures has proven to be a promising candidate for energy applications, optoelectronics, and photocatalysis. Efficient light energy absorption in perovskite NC-graphene heterostructures is of fundamental importance owing to their optoelectronic applications. A detailed understanding of the important process for device action, particularly interfacial charge transfer (CT), has thus far lingered subtly. This study describes the influence of the different surface functionalities of graphene on the CT dynamics in FAPbBr3 NCs attached to functionalized graphene heterostructures. Functionalized graphenes i.e., graphene oxide (GO) and amino acids (alanine (Ala), tyrosine (Tyr) and cysteine (Cys)) functionalized GO, were synthesized. By assembling the heterostructures of functionalized graphene with NCs, the quenching of photoluminescence (PL) of the FAPbBr3 NCs was observed. The photo-generated hole transfer from FAPbBr3 to functionalized graphene is responsible for PL quenching, which is supported by time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis. Our study revealed that the rate of CT and charge transfer efficiency (ECT) strongly depend on the nature of the functionalizing moieties. The highest hole transfer efficiency for NC-functionalized graphene heterostructures was observed in the case of cysteine-functionalized GO (88.84%) and the lowest with GO (38.15%). This suggests that cysteine-functionalized graphene is the best hole acceptor amongst all functionalized graphenes. This study offers a method to regulate energetics and investigate the extent of hole transfer in perovskite NCs and functionalized graphene heterostructures. These findings tend to draw new directions to stimulate advance research regarding the fundamental understanding of hole transfer in surface-modified donor-acceptor heterostructures for light harvesting assemblies, especially solar cells.

Quantifying irrigation water demand and supply gap using remote sensing and GIS in Multan, Pakistan.

Human interventions and rapid changes in land use adversely affect the adequate distribution of water resources. A research study was conducted to quantify the gap between demand and supply for irrigation water in Multan, Pakistan, which may lead to sustainable water management. Two remotely sensed images (Landsat 8 OLI and Landsat 5 TM) were downloaded for the years 2010 and 2020, and supervised classification method was performed for the selected land use land cover (LULC) classes and basic framework. During the evaluation, the kappa coefficient was found in the ranges of 0.83-0.85, and overall accuracy was found to be more than 80% which indicated a substantial agreement between the classified maps and the ground truth data for both years and seasons. The LULC maps showed that urbanization has increased by 49% during the last decade (2010-2020). Reduction in planting areas for wheat (9%), cotton (24%), and orchards (46%) was observed. An increase in planting areas for rice (92%) and sugarcane (63%) was observed. The changing LULC pattern may be related to variation in water demand and supply for irrigation. The irrigation water demand has decreased by 370.2 Mm3 from 2010 to 2020, due to the reduction in agricultural land and an increase in urbanization. Available irrigation water supply (canals/rainfall) was estimated as 2432 Mm3 for the year 2020 which was 26% less than that of total irrigation water demand (3281 Mm3). The findings also provide the database for sustainable water management and equitable distribution of water in the region.

Efficacy of organic-based carrier material for plant beneficial rhizobacteria application in okra under normal and salt-affected soil conditions.

AIMS: Plant beneficial rhizobacteria (PBR) improve salt tolerance and plant yield in vegetable plants by producing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate-deaminase, indole-3-acetic acid and phosphate solubilization. Organic-based carrier material is needed to ensure the PBR's uniform application, distribution, survival and functioning in a variety of fields. The PBR also use carbon present in the carrier as food and energy source. The selection of a suitable organic-based carrier material for the application of the PBR in normal and saline soils always has received less attention. The current study compared the PBR suitability of different organic-based carrier materials (biochar, biogas residues [BGRs] and coconut powder) and evaluated their effects on okra productivity under normal and saline soil conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a pot experiment, the PBR strain Bacillus sp. MR-1/2 (accession number, MG548383) was applied with/or without organic-based carrier materials to okra grown in three different soils: S1 (EC 1.0 dS m-1 ), S2 (EC 3.0 dS m-1 ) and S3 (EC 5.0 dS m-1 ). The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design with five replicates in factorial arrangement. Results indicated that in soil S1, PBR + BGR increased the number of pods per plant, plant dry weight and indole compounds by 64%, 68% and 17% while reduced the electrolyte leakage (ELL), malonaldehyde (MDA) contents and stress ethylene level by 17%, 55% and 38%, respectively over the PBR application without any carrier. Similarly, in soil S2, the treatment PBR + BGR increased the number of pods by 81%, plant dry weight by 40% and indole compounds by 13% while reduced the ELL by 17%, MDA contents by 50% and stress ethylene by 30% over the PBR alone treatment. In soil S3, PBR + biochar increased the number of pods by 51%, plant dry weight by 62% and indole compounds by 20%, while reduced the ELL by 21%, MDA by 40% and indole compounds by 54% over the PBR alone treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Results concluded that in soil S1 and S2 (normal soils), BGR as carrier for PBR showed best results, while in soil S3, biochar as carrier for PBR resulted in enhanced potassium (K+ ) and calcium (Ca+2 ) uptake and increased the productivity of okra. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: Response of different carrier materials in supporting PBR under different soil conditions was variable. This study will help in the selection and use of best suitable carrier material for PBR application under different soil conditions. It is recommended that farmer should use BGR as carrier material for PBR application in normal soils while biochar should be used as carrier for the PBR application in saline soil.

Elucidating the Photoluminescence Quenching in Ensulizole: an Artificial Water Soluble Sunscreen.

Employing natural or artificial sunscreens is essential to protect the skin from ultraviolet radiations that cause premature aging and develop melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. The 2-Phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid, commonly known as ensulizole is a water-soluble artificial sunscreen that absorb UV-B (280 nm - 315 nm) radiations and protects the skin against the harmful effects of these radiations. We have measured steady-state photoluminescence (SSPL) spectra and photoluminescence (PL) kinetics of this compound in various conditions. Steady-state absorption indicates a strong absorption feature at 303 nm and a weak one at 316 nm that have been identified as π → π* and n → π* transitions, respectively. The spectra of PL induced by these absorptions indicate that the PL of ensulizole is less Stokes-shifted in polar solvents and more Stokes-shifted in non-polar solvents. The average PL lifetime of ensulizole is longer in non-polar solvents than in polar solvents and it exhibits the shortest PL lifetime in aqueous medium that maximize its transition efficiency in water. This suggests in non-polar solvents intersystem crossing is the dominant mode of relaxation of the excited ππ* state. Furthermore, an increase of pH of ensulizole solution decreases the PL intensity and the lifetime. Stern-Volmer equation is employed to evaluate bimolecular quenching rate constant kq. The evaluation result suggests the diffusional dynamic mode of PL quenching is operative.

Lipoic Acid Combined with Melatonin Mitigates Oxidative Stress and Promotes Root Formation and Growth in Salt-Stressed Canola Seedlings (Brassica napus L.).

Lipoic acid (LA) and melatonin (MT) are pleiotropic molecules participating in plant stress resistance by modulating cellular biochemical changes, ion homeostasis, and antioxidant enzyme activities. However, the combined role of these two molecules in counteracting the detrimental impacts of salinity stress is still unknown. In the present study, we determined the effects of exogenous LA (0.5 µM), MT (1 µM) and their combination (LA + MT) on growth performance and biomass accumulation, photosynthetic pigments, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities, and ions homeostatic in canola (Brassica napus L.) seedlings under salinity stress (0, 100 mM) for 40 days. The results indicate that exogenous application of LA + MT improved the phenotypic growth (by 25 to 45%), root thickness (by 68%), number of later lateral roots (by 52%), root viability (by 44%), and root length (by 50%) under salinity stress. Moreover, total soluble protein, chlorophyll pigments, the concentration of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase peroxidase (CAT), and ascorbic peroxidase (ASA) increased with the presence of salt concentration into the growth media and then decreased with the addition of LA + MT to saline solution. Leaf protein contents and the degradation of photosynthetic pigments were lower when LA + MT treatments were added into NaCl media. The proline and phenol contents decreased in the exogenous application of LA + MT treatments more than individual LA or MT treatments under the salinity stress. The incorporation of LA or MT or a combination of LA + MT to saline solution decreased salinity-induced malondialdehyde and electrolyte leakage. In conclusion, the alteration of metabolic pathways, redox modulation, and ions homeostasis in plant tissues by the combined LA and MT application are helpful towards the adaptation of Brassica napus L. seedlings in a saline environment. The results of this study provide, for the first time, conclusive evidence about the protective role of exogenous LA + MT in canola seedlings under salinity stress.

Alleviation of chromium toxicity in maize by Fe fortification and chromium tolerant ACC deaminase producing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria.

Chromium (Cr) is becoming a potential pollutant with the passage of time. Higher intake of Cr does not only affect the productivity of crops, but also the quality of food produced in Cr polluted soils. In the past, foliar application of Fe is widely studied regarding their potential to alleviate Cr toxicity. However, limited information is documented regarding the combined use of PGPR and foliar Fe. Therefore, the current study was conducted to screen Cr tolerant PGPR and examine effect of foliar Fe with and without Cr tolerant PGPR under Cr toxicity (50 and 100 mg kg-1) in maize (Zea mays) production. Out of 15, two Cr tolerant PGPR were screened, identified (Agrobacterium fabrum and Leclercia adecarboxylata) and inoculated with 500 µM Fe. Results confirmed that Agrobacterium fabrum + 500 µM Fe performed significantly best in improving dry weight of roots and shoot, plant height, roots and shoot length and plant leaves in maize under Cr toxicity. A significant increase in chlorophyll a (51.5%), b (55.1%) and total (32.5%) validated the effectiveness of A. fabrum + 500 µM Fe to alleviate Cr toxicity. Improvement in intake of N (64.7%), P (70.0 and 183.3%), K (53.8% and 3.40-fold) in leaves and N (25.6 and 122.2%), P (25.6 and 122.2%), K (33.3% and 97.3%) in roots of maize at Cr50 and Cr100 confirmed that combined application of A. fabrum with 500 µM Fe is a more efficacious approach for alleviation of Cr toxicity and fortification of Fe comparative to sole foliar application of 500 µM Fe.

Study of land cover/land use changes using RS and GIS: a case study of Multan district, Pakistan.

Water and land both are limited resources. Current management strategies are facing multiple challenges to meet food security of an increasing population in numerous South Asian countries, including Pakistan. The study of land cover/land use changes (LCLUC) and land surface temperature (LST) is important as both provide critical information for policymaking of natural resources. We spatially examined LCLU and LST changes in district Multan, Pakistan, and its impacts on vegetation cover and water during 1988 to 2017. The LCLUC indicate that rice and sugarcane had less volatility of change in comparison with both cotton and wheat. Producer's accuracy (PA) is the map accuracy (the producer of map), but user's accuracy (UA) is the accuracy from the point of view of a map user, not the map maker. Average overall producer's and user's accuracy for the region was 85.7% and 87.7% for Rabi (winter) and Kharif (summer) seasons, respectively. The results of this study showed that 'built-up area' increased with 7.2% of all the classes during 1988 to 2017 in the Multan district. Anthropogenic activities decreased the vegetation, leading to an increase in LST in study area. Changes on LCLU and LST during the last 30 years have shown that vegetation pattern has changed and temperature has increased in the Multan district.

Sleep quality among medical students of Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To characterise sleep quality and assess degree of daytime sleepiness among medical students of Karachi. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted between August and December 2013 and subjects were recruited from five haphazardly selected medical colleges in Karachi. A convenience sample of medical students underwent two validated self-administered questionnaires i.e. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. SPSS 17 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 650 students approached, 504(77.5%) subjects completely filled out the questionnaires. Of them, 300(59.5%) were females and 204(40.5%) were males. Overall mean age was 20±1.4 years. Of them, 199(39.5%) were classified as "Poor Sleepers". Poor sleep quality was associated with female gender (p <0.05), excessive daytime sleepiness (p <0.05), total hours slept (p <0.001) and sleep disturbances (p <0.001). Bed-timing analysis showed 365(72%) students went to bed after midnight. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep quality among Pakistani medical students was significantly poor. Efforts must be directed towards proper sleep hygiene education.

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index as a tool for wheat yield estimation: a case study from Faisalabad, Pakistan.

For estimation of grain yield in wheat, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is considered as a potential screening tool. Field experiments were conducted to scrutinize the response of NDVI to yield behavior of different wheat cultivars and nitrogen fertilization at agronomic research area, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) during the two years 2008-09 and 2009-10. For recording the value of NDVI, Green seeker (Handheld-505) was used. Split plot design was used as experimental model in, keeping four nitrogen rates (N1 = 0 kg ha(-1), N2 = 55 kg ha(-1), N3 = 110 kg ha(-1), and N4 = 220 kg ha(-1)) in main plots and ten wheat cultivars (Bakkhar-2001, Chakwal-50, Chakwal-97, Faisalabad-2008, GA-2002, Inqlab-91, Lasani-2008, Miraj-2008, Sahar-2006, and Shafaq-2006) in subplots with four replications. Impact of nitrogen and difference between cultivars were forecasted through NDVI. The results suggested that nitrogen treatment N4 (220 kg ha(-1)) and cultivar Faisalabad-2008 gave maximum NDVI value (0.85) at grain filling stage among all treatments. The correlation among NDVI at booting, grain filling, and maturity stages with grain yield was positive (R(2) = 0.90; R(2) = 0.90; R(2) = 0.95), respectively. So, booting, grain filling, and maturity can be good depictive stages during mid and later growth stages of wheat crop under agroclimatic conditions of Faisalabad and under similar other wheat growing environments in the country.

Protective and Flame-Retardant Bifunctional Epoxy-Based Nanocomposite Coating by Intercomponent Synergy between Modified CaAl-LDH and rGO.

Extensive utilization in various settings poses extra requirements of coatings beyond just anticorrosion properties. Herein, 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) intercalated CaAl-based layered double hydroxide (CaAl-8HQ-LDH) was loaded on reduced GO (rGO) through a one-pot hydrothermal reaction, which was employed as the nanofiller endowing the epoxy (EP/CaAl-8HQ LDH@rGO) with excellent flame-retardancy while ensuring efficient protection for mild steel. Results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated the durability of the EP/CaAl-8HQ LDH@rGO-coated specimen, with the impedance at the lowest frequency (|Z|0.01Hz) maintained as 1.84 × 1010 Ω cm2 after 120 days of immersion in a 3.5 wt % NaCl solution. Even for the scratched EP/CaAl-8HQ LDH@rGO system, only a slight decline in |Z|0.01Hz was observed during 180 h of exposure to the NaCl solution, indicating a self-healing feature supported by salt spray tests. UL-94 burning tests revealed the V-0 rating for EP/CaAl-8HQ LDH@rGO with improved thermostability. Strong physical barrier from two-dimensional rGO and the release of 8-HQ from LDH interlayers accounted for the anticorrosive and self-healing properties. However, O2-concentration dilution and charring-layer promotion governed the flame-retardant behavior of the nanocomposite coating. The intercomponent synergy of nanofillers achieved in this work may provide a useful reference for designing multifunctional coatings.

Understanding the dynamics of capital structure, corporate governance, and corporate social responsibility in high- and low-leveraged US and Chinese firms.

Corporate social responsibility turned into a global sensation from the inception of the twenty-first century in the corporate world and grabbed immense engrossment from all stakeholders in their decision-making process. Capital structure and corporate governance practices are the well-mellowed facets of corporate finance literature. In this study, the moderating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) between corporate governance and leverage of the US and Chinese listed firms has been established, with a further extension of analyzing the moderating role of CSR between corporate governance and leverage in high vs low leveraged firms and high CSR vs low CSR firms as the novelty of this study and has never been examined in both economies and globally. The data of 1989 Chinese-listed firms from 28 sectors of the economy and 6640 US-listed firms from 27 sectors of the economy has been taken from 2001 to 2019 and analyzed through fixed effect regression and system generalized method of moment (GMM). Results of the study reveal that CSR and corporate governance are negatively associated with the leverage of both Chinese and US firms. Moreover, the moderating role of CSR has established between corporate governance and leverage negative relationship. The moderating role of CSR in the relationship of leverage and corporate governance is established only in low-leveraged firms whereas it is insignificant in high-leveraged firms. System GMM confirms the signs and significance of the regression results; that is why regression results are robust and reliable, and there is no endogeneity problem in our model. The study also gives an insight for future research on high- and low-leveraged firms and firms with more CSR score than less CSR score with other dimensions such as firm performance and firm value variables.

Efficacy of cell-free DNA as a diagnostic biomarker in breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent and leading cause of mortality worldwide among women. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis is an alternative quantitative approach to conventional methods for cancer diagnosis. The current research project aimed to determine the efficacy of cfDNA as a diagnostic biomarker in breast cancer patients in Pakistan. Eighty-four female breast cancer patients were selected as cases, and 152 healthy females as controls. Immunohistochemistry was performed to identify tumor biomarkers along with clinical profiling. cfDNA was extracted from serum using the phenol-chloroform method. The cfDNA level in the serum was estimated using Agarose Gel Electrophoresis and Nanodrop. SPPS version 25.0 was used to perform statistical analyses. The results showed that the cancer biomarkers were significantly associated with breast cancer. The changes in hematological parameters were insignificant, whereas the biochemical parameter variations between the cases and controls were statistically significant. A significant association of cfDNA level with breast cancer was observed. Further cfDNA levels and cancer biomarkers were not statistically significant. A significant correlation was observed between cfDNA and biochemical parameters, except for creatinine, whereas hematological parameters showed no significant correlation.ROC analysis declared cfDNA as an authentic diagnostic marker for breast cancer. It was concluded that the level of cfDNA is significantly increased in breast cancer patients and can be utilized as a diagnostic biomarker.

Effect of surface ligands on the photoinduced electron transfer rate and efficiency in ZnO quantum dots and graphene oxide assemblies.

Apart from biocompatibility, ZnO quantum dots (QDs) are considered to be an efficient luminescence material due to their low cost and high redox potential. Here, we report the synthesis of ZnO QDs by using five different functionalizing ligands like mercaptoacetic acid (MAA), 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), octadecene (ODE), ethylene glycol (EG), and oleyl amine (OLA) and fabricate their assemblies with graphene oxide (GO). We investigate the role of functionalizing ligands as a surface modifier of ZnO QDs for their attachment to GO. The steady-state photoluminescence (SSPL) and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) analyses demonstrate the photoluminescence (PL) quenching of ZnO QDs in ZnO QDs-GO assembly. The highest reduction in PL intensity is observed with ZnO QDs-GO assembly with EG as a surface functionalizing ligand. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis confirms the feasibility of charge transfer from ZnO QDs to the GO. The maximum (79.43%) charge transfer efficiency (ECT ) is observed in the case of ZnO-MAA-GO as compared to other assemblies. This means the thiol group-containing ligands facilitate charge transfer as compared to hydroxyl and amine group ligands. This leads to the conclusion that charge transfer in ZnO QDs-GO assemblies depends strongly on the nature of surface ligands.

Using space-time scan statistic for studying the effects of COVID-19 in Punjab, Pakistan: a guideline for policy measures in regional agriculture.

Pakistan is included in top 50 countries which are estimated to face serious agriculture and food deficiency related challenges due to the worldwide pandemic coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of COVID-19 on food supply chain and agriculture in Punjab, Pakistan, by using space-time scan statistic (STSS). A survey was conducted at 720 points in different districts of the province. The STSS detected "active" and emerging clusters that are current at the end of our study area-particularly, 17 clusters were formed while adding the updated case data. Software ArcGIS 10.3 was used to find relative risk (RR) values; the maximum RR value was found to be 42.19 and maximum observed cases 53,265 during June 15-July 1, 2020. It was not always necessary that if the number of active cases in Punjab increased, there should be higher relative risk for more number of districts and vice versa. Due to the highest number of cases of COVID-19 and RR values during July, mostly farmers faced many difficulties during the cultivation of cotton and rice. Mostly farmers (72%) observed increase in prices of inputs (fertilizers and pesticides) during lockdown. If the supply chain of agriculture related inputs is disturbed, farmers may find it quite difficult to access markets, which could result in a decline in production and sales of crops and livestock in study area. It is suggested that to protect the food security and to decrease the effect of the lockdown, Punjab government needs to review food policy and analyse how market forces will respond to the imbalanced storage facilities and capacity, supply and demand and price control of products. The findings of this study can also help policy-makers to formulate an effective food security and agriculture adaptation strategy.

Assessment of land use/land cover changes and its effect on land surface temperature using remote sensing techniques in Southern Punjab, Pakistan.

Land surface temperature (LST) is defined as a phenomenon which shows that microclimate of an urban system gets heated much faster than its surrounding rural climates. The expansion of buildings has a noteworthy influence on land use/land cover (LULC) due to conversion of vegetation land into commercial and residential areas and their associated infrastructure by which LST is accelerated. The objective of the research was to study the impact of changes in LULC on LST of Southern Punjab (Pakistan) through remote sensing (RS) data. Landsat images of 30-year duration (1987, 1997, 2007 and 2017) were employed for identifying vegetation indices and LST in the study region. These images also helped to work out normalized difference water index (NDWI) and normalized difference built-up index (NDBI) maps. There was an increase from 29620 (3.63 %) to 88038 ha (10.8 %) in built-up area over the 30 years. LST values were found in the range 12-42 °C, 11-44 °C, 11-45 °C and 11-47 °C in the years 1987, 1997, 2007 and 2017, respectively. Regression coefficients (R2) 0.81, 0.78, 0.84 and 0.76 were observed between NDVI and LST in the corresponding years respectively. Our study showed that NDVI and NDWI were negatively correlated with less LST; however, NDBI showed positive correlation with high LST. Our study gives critical information of LULC and LST and will be a helpful tool for policy makers for developing effective policies in managing land resources.

The Common Systemic and Local Adverse Effects of the Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccine: An Observational Study From Pakistan.

Background Vaccination acts by boosting the capacity of a person's immune system to identify and effectively resist infection-causing bacteria and viruses, as it stimulates the immune system to respond to the vaccine's antigens. The immunological response may include local and systemic symptoms, including pain at the injection site and fever, respectively. The Sinovac vaccine is an inactivated virus vaccine made in China and is one of the most widely used vaccines in many countries; however, the side effects of the Sinovac vaccine have not been well-studied in our population. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence of side effects experienced by participants after receiving the Sinovac vaccine. Methodology This multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted using a non-probability sampling method. The duration of the study was six months from May 1, 2022, to October 31, 2022. A total of 800 participants who were completely vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine were included in the study. For categorical data, frequencies and percentages were documented, while for continuous data, such as age, height, weight, and the duration of comorbidities, means and standard deviations were evaluated. Results The study findings showed that out of 800 participants, 534 (66.8%) were males and 266 (33.3%) were females, with a mean age of 41.20 ± 13.70 years. Among them, 162 (20.3%) had hypertension, and 104 (13.0%) had diabetes. Following the first dose of the Sinovac vaccine, fever was the most commonly reported side effect in 350 (43.8%) participants. Additionally, pain at the injection site in 238 (29.8%) participants, followed by swelling at the injection site in 228 (28.5%) recipients, were among other common side effects. Following the second dose of the Sinovac vaccine, fever was the most commonly reported side effect in 262 (32.8%) participants. Conclusions This study concluded that fever was the most frequent systemic side effect, whereas pain and swelling at the injection site were the most frequent local side effects following the administration of the first and second doses of the Sinovac vaccine. Both dosages of Sinovac were well-tolerated, and the majority of the adverse effects were minor and self-limiting.

Enhancing the FRET by tuning the bandgap of acceptor ternary ZnCdS quantum dots.

In this article, we report the band gap tuning of ternary ZnCdS quantum dots (QDs) by varying the concentration of the capping ligand, mercaptoacetic acid (MAA). The functionalization of QDs leads to the control of their size and band gap due to the quantum confinement effect, causing blue shift in the absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra with a gradual change in the concentration of the capping ligand from 0.5 to 2.5 M. Ensulizole (2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid) is an important organic ultraviolet (UV) filter that is frequently used in sunscreen cosmetics. An effective overlapping of the PL spectrum of ensulizole and the absorption spectrum of QDs with 2.5 M MAA is achieved. A formidable decrease in the PL intensity and the PL lifetime of ensulizole promotes an efficient Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from sunscreen ensulizole to the QDs. The magnitude of the FRET efficiency (E) is ∼70%. This very high value of E is the signature of the existence of a very fast energy transfer process from ensulizole to the MAA functionalized ZnCdS QDs. The dyad system consisting of ZnCdS QDs and ensulizole sunscreen can serve as a prototype model to develop a better understanding of the photochemistry of ensulizole and consequently the formulation of more efficient sunscreen cosmetics.

Green buildings model: Impact of rigid polyurethane foam on indoor environment and sustainable development in energy sector.

The construction and building industry in the modern world heavily relies on advanced techniques and materials such as polymers. However, with the world's population alarmingly increasing, contributing to the greenhouse effect, and severe weather conditions amplifying, it has become crucial to reduce the heat effects in both new and old buildings. To achieve this, 50-70% more energy is necessary, which highlights the importance of energy-efficient construction practices and materials. Consequently, a comprehensive study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Polyurethane in indoor environments and energy conservation. Current study was performed due to an innovative application of insulation materials as to reduce the heat and energy costs in construction works. Thermal conductivity at mean temperature 35 °C was found 0.0272 (W/m K) with maximum in burnt clay brick (1.43 W/m K) by using hotplate apparatus. Specific heat was also found less 0.85 (KJ/Kg K) at density 32 kg/m3 while results were at par in reinforcement cement concrete and burnt clay brick 0.91, 0.91 (KJ/Kg K) respectively. Similarly, heat transmittance values of different roof sections by using polyurethane insulation showing satisfaction the ECBC in Buildings deviating standard U-value 1.20% to 0.418 (W/m2 K) with its excellent performance. Polyurethane treatments have been found to exert a significant impact on the computation of thermal resistance and overall heat transfer coefficients. In contrast, non-insulated treatments yielded inconclusive results with little to no significance. This highlights the importance of insulation materials in energy-efficient construction practices. Energy consumption in winter and summer also has shown the significant impact by using polyurethane application with cumulative saving of 60-62% electricity. Economic Benefit of polyurethane in RCC and Conventional buildings describes positive and highly significant impact in present study. Application of polyurethane in new and old buildings ultimate enhanced the better quality of life and living standards from people of applied countries and is strongly recommended for future prospects and endeavors as Eco-friendly and energy efficient for sustainable development.