Green synthesis of ZnO nanocubes from Ceropegia omissa H. Huber extract for photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol An under visible light to mitigate water pollution

Plastic pollution has become a major environmental problem because it does not break down and poses risks to ecosystems and human health. This study focuses on the environmentally friendly synthesis of ZnO nanocubes using an extract from Ceropegia omissa H. Huber plant leaves. The primary goal is to investigate the viability of these nanocubes as visible-light photocatalysts for the degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). The synthesized ZnO nanocubes have a highly crystalline structure and a bandgap of 3.1 eV, making them suitable for effective visible-light photocatalysis. FTIR analysis, which demonstrates that the pertinent functional groups are present, demonstrates the chemical bonding and reducing processes that take place in the plant extract. The XPS method also studies zinc metals, oxygen valencies, and binding energies. Under visible light irradiation, ZnO nanocubes degrade BPA by 86% in 30 min. This plant-extract-based green synthesis method provides a long-term replacement for traditional procedures, and visible light photocatalysis has advantages over ultraviolet light. The study's results show that ZnO nanocubes may be good for the environment and can work well as visible light photocatalysts to break down organic pollutants. This adds to what is known about using nanoparticles to clean up the environment. As a result, this study highlights the potential of using environmentally friendly ZnO nanocubes as a long-lasting and efficient method of reducing organic pollutant contamination in aquatic environments.

An SNP based genotyping assay for genes associated with drought tolerance in bread wheat

BACKGROUND

SnRK2 plays vital role in responding to adverse abiotic stimuli. The applicability of TaSnRK2.4 and TaSnRK2.9 was investigated to leverage the potential of these genes in indigenous wheat breeding programs.

METHODS

Genetic diversity was assessed using pre-existing markers for TaSnRK2.4 and TaSnRK2.9. Furthermore, new markers were also developed to enhance their broader applicability. KASP markers were designed for TaSnRK2.4, while CAPS-based markers were tailored for TaSnRK2.9.

RESULTS

Analysis revealed lack of polymorphism in TaSnRK2.4 among Pakistani wheat germplasm under study. To validate this finding, available gel-based markers for TaSnRK2.4 were employed, producing consistent results and offering limited potential for application in marker-assisted wheat breeding with Pakistani wheat material. For TaSnRK2.9-5A, CAPS2.9-5A-1 and CAPS2.9-5A-2 markers were designed to target SNP positions at 308 nt and 1700 nt revealing four distinct haplotypes. Association analysis highlighted the significance of Hap-5A-1 of TaSnRK2.9-5A, which exhibited association with an increased number of productive tillers (NPT), grains per spike (GPS), and reduced plant height (PH) under well-watered (WW) conditions. Moreover, it showed positive influence on NPT under WW conditions, GPS under water-limited (WL) conditions, and PH under both WW and WL conditions. High selection intensity observed for Hap-5A-1 underscores the valuable role it has played in Pakistani wheat breeding programs. Gene expression studies of TaSnRK2.9-5A revealed the involvement of this gene in response to PEG, NaCl, low temperature and ABA treatments.

CONCLUSION

These findings propose that TaSnRK2.9 can be effectively employed for improving wheat through marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding efforts.

Benign-by-design plant extract-mediated preparation of copper oxide nanoparticles for environmentally related applications

A facile, cost-competitive, scalable and novel synthetic approach is used to prepare copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) using Betel leaf (Piper betle) extracts as reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents. CuO-NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), as well as photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The activity of CuO-NPs was investigated towards Congo red dye degradation, supercapacitor energy storage and antibacterial activity. A maximum of 89% photodegradation of Congo red dye (CR) was obtained. The nanoparticle modified electrode also exhibited a specific capacitance (Csp) of 179 Fg-1. Furthermore, the antibacterial potential of CuO NPs was evaluated against Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, both strains displaying high antibacterial performance.

Proceeding of catalytic water splitting on Cu/Ce@g-C3N4 photocatalysts: an exceptional approach for sunlight-driven hydrogen generation

Increasing energy demands and environmental problems require carbon-free and renewable energy generation systems. For this purpose, we have synthesized efficient photocatalysts (i.e., g-C3N4, Cu@g-C3N4, Ce@g-C3N4 and Cu/Ce@g-C3N4) for H2 evolution from water splitting. Their optical, structural and electrochemical properties were investigated by UV-Vis-DRS, PL, XRD, FTIR, Raman and EIS methods. Their surface morphologies were evaluated by AFM and SEM analyses. Their chemical characteristics, compositions and stability were assessed using XPS, EDX and TGA techniques. Photoreactions were performed in a quartz reactor (150 mL/Velp-UK), whereas hydrogen generation activities were monitored using a GC-TCD (Shimadzu-2014/Japan). The results depicted that Cu/Ce@g-C3N4 catalysts are the most active catalysts that deliver 23.94 mmol g-1 h-1 of H2. The higher rate of H2 evolution was attributed to the active synergism between Ce and Cu metals and the impact of surface plasmon electrons (SPEs) of Cu that were produced during the photoreaction. The rate of H2 production was optimized by controlling various factors, including the catalyst amount, light intensity, pH, and temperature of the reaction mixture. It has been concluded that the current study holds promise to replace the conventional and costly catalysts used for hydrogen generation technologies.

Serious Adverse Events of Inclisiran in Patients With Hypercholesterolemia, a Meta-Analysis of ORION Trials

BACKGROUND

Several studies have been conducted over the years to find an effective and safe therapeutic agent to treat hypercholesterolemia. Inclisiran is a novel drug being studied for its efficacy and safety in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in patients to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. No previous study was done to review the trials for the serious adverse events of this drug. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the incidence of serious adverse events of this drug.

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials is performed.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov, from their inception till July 3, 2023, was performed for ORION trials, studying the efficacy and safety of inclisiran. The random-effects model was used in the meta-analysis to provide a pooled proportion of serious adverse events. The risk of bias in each study was assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.

RESULTS

From 319 studies searched from the databases, only 8 relevant articles remained after a detailed evaluation. These studies, having a total of 4981 patients, were involved in the analysis, with a pooled estimate showing a nonsignificant incidence of serious adverse events. Each adverse event was studied individually, and product issues and endocrine disorders had the highest odds ratio among them. All included studies were classified as moderate quality.

CONCLUSION

Following systematic review and meta-analysis, we found no significant differences in any serious adverse events following the administration of inclisiran. However, larger ongoing trials will provide additional data to evaluate the safety profile of this agent.

Investigating the role of smart technologies, financial, and environmental innovations in tackling the ecological sustainability: a global pathway toward low carbon energy transition

Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, the rapid development of modern technologies has brought unprecedented social prosperity to mankind as technologies penetrate every sector of the economy. These technologies have given a new dimension to the energy sector. The key purpose of this study is to investigate the crucial impact of technological revolutions, namely, smart grids, smart devices, financial innovations, and environmental innovations, on greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). To this end, the study utilized data from European, Asian, Middle Eastern, and African countries and employed first- and second-generation methods, such as DOLS, FMOLS, and CS-ARDL models. The research shows that smart grids are the only factor in reducing GHGs, regardless of geographic division. Hence, linking smart grid resources to climate change goals requires short-term deployment strategies with a clear long-term vision and the fundamental goal of transforming the power structure into a net zero-emission system. The study also demonstrates that the emergence of ICT in electricity consumption has not yet reached a level that can promote environmental excellence. The study documented the critical role of financial innovation and environmental innovation in addressing environmental degradation.

Spatial Cluster Change of Schistosoma japonicum Transmission Foci in Indonesia During the Schistosomiasis Elimination Program

PURPOSE

The Government of Indonesia committed to eliminating schistosomiasis by 2025. Collaboratively snail control became one of the crucial strategies to ensure that the prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum in Oncomelania hupensis lindoensis reaches zero by the end of the program. This research investigated the spatial cluster change of S. japonicum transmission foci in Indonesia between 2017 and 2021.

METHODS

We mapped the snail foci, collected the snails, and calculated the snail density. We also conducted laboratory tests to detect the existence of cercariae in the snails. Identified infected snails were used to calculate the infection rate (IR) or snails' prevalence of schistosome cercariae among freshwater snails. We then analysed the spatial cluster using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic to identify the hot and cold spots.

RESULTS

The 5-year schistosomiasis elimination program successfully declined 18.84% of the snail foci and reduced 40.37% of the infected snail foci. Local spatial autocorrelation of snail density and infection rate identified that in 2017 and 2021, the number of cold spots decreased by 53.91% and 0%, while hot spots increased by 2.63% and 56.1%. The presence of more hot spots suggests a rise in the number of foci with high snail density and infection rates. The implementation of snail control was not optimal, and the parasite transmission through domestic animals still existed, causing the spatial cluster of hot spots to change during this period. Most hotspots have been observed near settlements, primarily in cocoa plantations, developed and deserted rice fields, grassland, and bush wetlands.

CONCLUSION

During the schistosomiasis elimination program, the number of hot spots increased while cold spots decreased, and there were notable changes in the geographical distribution of hot spots, indicating a shift in the clustering pattern of schistosomiasis cases. The findings become essential for policymakers, particularly in selecting priority areas for intervention. In the Discussion section, we demonstrated the selection process based on the existence of hot and cold spots. Furthermore, we proposed that enhancing cross-sector integration is crucial, particularly in connection with the management of S. japonicum transmission through domestic animals.

The key to sustainability: In-depth investigation of environmental quality in G20 countries through the lens of renewable energy, economic complexity and geopolitical risk resilience

The world is currently facing urgent climate and environmental issues, such as global warming, ecosystem collapse, and energy shortages. In this context, this study selected data from 2000 to 2021 and employed the Method of Moment Quantile Regression (MMQR) to thoroughly investigate the impact of renewable energy consumption, economic complexity, and geopolitical risks on the ecological footprint of the Group of Twenty (G20) countries. The results indicate that in countries with lower quantiles, renewable energy consumption significantly reduces the ecological footprint, whereas its effect is not prominent in countries with higher quantiles. Economic complexity has a negative impact on the ecological footprint, and this impact becomes stronger as the quantile of the ecological footprint rises. Additionally, economic complexity moderates the effect of renewable energy on the ecological footprint. Geopolitical risks facilitate the growth of the ecological footprint. Likewise, robustness tests such as DOLS, FMOLS, and quantile regression confirm these estimates in the same framework. This study has conducted a profound analysis of global environmental issues, offering innovative perspectives and recommendations for achieving goals related to sustainable energy utilization, mitigating climate change, and improving the ecological environment. The findings of this research will guide policymakers in G20 countries to adopt more effective environmental protection measures, thereby contributing to the construction of a sustainable future.

Green synthesis of tellurium-doped SnO2 nanoparticles with sulfurized g-C3 N4 : Insights into methylene blue photodegradation and antibacterial capability

The construction of SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs), specifically Te-doped SnO2 NPs, using a simple and economical co-precipitation technique has been thoroughly described in this work. NH3 served as the reducing agent in this procedure, whilst polyethylene glycol served as the capping agent. The primary goals of our work were to investigate the physicochemical properties of the synthesized SnO2 NPs and assess their potential use as antibacterial agents and photocatalysts. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray, ultraviolet light, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and other analytical techniques were used to thoroughly analyze the NPs. Based on the full width at half maximum of the most noticeable peaks in the XRD spectrum, the Debye-Scherrer equation was used to calculate the crystallite sizes, which indicated the presence of a single tetragonal SnO2 phase. Particularly noteworthy was the exceptional photocatalytic activity of graphene-assisted Te-doped SnO2 NPs, achieving an impressive decomposition efficiency of up to 98% in the photo-oxidation of methylene blue. Furthermore, our investigation delved into the antibacterial attributes of the synthesized SnO2 NPs against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, demonstrating inhibitory effects on both bacteria strains. This suggests potential applications for these NPs in various environmental and medical contexts.

CRISPR-Cas9 based molecular breeding in crop plants: a review

Traditional crop breeding techniques are not quickly boosting yields to fulfill the expanding population needs. Long crop lifespans hinder the ability of plant breeding to develop superior crop varieties. Due to the arduous crossing, selecting, and challenging processes, it can take decades to establish new varieties with desired agronomic traits. Develop new plant varieties instantly to reduce hunger and improve food security. As a result of the adoption of conventional agricultural techniques, crop genetic diversity has decreased over time. Several traditional and molecular techniques, such as genetic selection, mutant breeding, somaclonal variation, genome-wide association studies, and others, have improved agronomic traits associated with agricultural plant productivity, quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In addition, modern genome editing approaches based on programmable nucleases, CRISPR, and Cas9 proteins have escorted an exciting new era of plant breeding. Plant breeders and scientists worldwide rely on cutting-edge techniques like quick breeding, genome editing tools, and high-throughput phenotyping to boost crop breeding output. This review compiles discoveries in numerous areas of crop breeding, such as using genome editing tools to accelerate the breeding process and create yearly crop generations with the desired features, to describe the shift from conventional to modern plant breeding techniques.

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

BACKGROUND

Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.

METHODS

This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.

RESULTS

The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (β coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.

CONCLUSION

Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely.

Analysis of Germin-like protein genes family in Vitis vinifera (VvGLPs) using various in silico approaches

Abstract Germin-like proteins (GLPs) play an important role against various stresses. Vitis vinifera L. genome contains 7 GLPs; many of them are functionally unexplored. However, the computational analysis may provide important new insight into their function. Currently, physicochemical properties, subcellular localization, domain architectures, 3D structures, N-glycosylation & phosphorylation sites, and phylogeney of the VvGLPs were investigated using the latest computational tools. Their functions were predicted using the Search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes/proteins (STRING) and Blast2Go servers. Most of the VvGLPs were extracellular (43%) in nature but also showed periplasmic (29%), plasma membrane (14%), and mitochondrial- or chloroplast-specific (14%) expression. The functional analysis predicted unique enzymatic activities for these proteins including terpene synthase, isoprenoid synthase, lipoxygenase, phosphate permease, receptor kinase, and hydrolases generally mediated by Mn+ cation. VvGLPs showed similarity in the overall structure, shape, and position of the cupin domain. Functionally, VvGLPs control and regulate the production of secondary metabolites to cope with various stresses. Phylogenetically VvGLP1, -3, -4, -5, and VvGLP7 showed greater similarity due to duplication while VvGLP2 and VvGLP6 revealed a distant relationship. Promoter analysis revealed the presence of diverse cis-regulatory elements among which CAAT box, MYB, MYC, unnamed-4 were common to all of them. The analysis will help to utilize VvGLPs and their promoters in future food programs by developing resistant cultivars against various biotic (Erysiphe necator and in Powdery Mildew etc.) and abiotic (Salt, drought, heat, dehydration, etc.) stresses.

Ethnomedicinal uses of plants for various diseases in the remote areas of Changa Manga Forest, Pakistan

Abstract This study aims at reporting the indigenous knowledge of the medicinal flora from the inhabitants of surroundings of the World’s largest artificial planted forest “Changa Manga”, Pakistan. Data were collected by direct interviews and group meetings from 81 inhabitants including 32 local healers having information regarding the use of indigenous medicinal plants over a period of one year. Different statistical tools were applied to analyze the data including Frequency citation (FC), Relative frequency citation (RFC), Use Value, Factor of informants consensus and fidelity level. This study reported 73 plant species belonging to 37 plant families and 46 genera. The majority of plant species belong to compositae family. The most commonly used medicinal plants were P. hysterophorus L., P. dactylifera L., S. indicum L, P. harmala L., P. emblica L., and A. indica A.Juss. The greatest number of species was used to cure gastrointestinal disorders. The highest fidelity level (68.18%) was of E. helioscopia to cure gastrointestinal disorders. Maximum fresh uses (17) were reported by C. dactylon (L.) Pars. While the highest number of species reporting fresh uses in similar number was 13. In this study, five novel plants are being reported for the first time in Pakistan for their ethnomedicinal worth. Our data reflect unique usage of the medicinal plants in the study area. The statistical tools used in the study proved useful in pointing the most important and disease category specific plants. High use value plant and the new reported medicinal plants might prove an important source of the isolation of pharmacologically active compounds.

Recent Development of Electrolytes for Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Batteries (Aorfbs): Current Status, Challenges, and Prospects

In recent years, aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFBs) have attracted considerable attention due to advancements in grid-level energy storage capacity research. These batteries offer remarkable benefits, including outstanding capacity retention, excellent cell performance, high energy density, and cost-effectiveness. The organic electrolytes in AORFBs exhibit adjustable redox potentials and tunable solubilities in water. Previously, various types of organic electrolytes, such as quinones, organometallic complexes, viologens, redox-active polymers, and organic salts, were extensively investigated for their electrochemical performance and stability. This study presents an overview of recently published novel organic electrolytes for AORFBs in acidic, alkaline, and neutral environments. Furthermore, it delves into the current status, challenges, and prospects of AORFBs, highlighting different strategies to overcome these challenges, with special emphasis placed on their design, composition, functionalities, and cost. A brief techno-economic analysis of various aqueous RFBs is also outlined, considering their potential scalability and integration with renewable energy systems.

Insight on the structural, electronic and optical properties of Zn, Ga-doped/dual-doped graphitic carbon nitride for visible-light applications

The density functional theory (DFT) was applied for the first time to study the doping and co-doping of Ga and Zn metals on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). The doping of these metal impurities into g-C3N4 leads to a significant decrease in the bandgap energy. Moreover, the co-doping leads to even lower bandgap energy than either individual Zn or Ga-doped g-C3N4. The theoretical electronic and optical properties including the density of state (DOS), energy levels of the frontier orbital, excited state lifetime, and molecular electrostatic potential of the doped and co-doped g-C3N4 support their application in UV-visible light-based technologies. The quantum mechanical parameters (energy band gap, binding energy, exciton energy, softness, hardness) and dipole moment exhibit higher values (ranging from 1.36 to 4.94 D) compared to the bare g-C3N4 (0.29 D), indicating better solubility in the water solvent. The time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations showed absorption maxima in between the UV-Vis region (309-878 nm). Additionally, charge transfer characteristics, transition density matrix (TDM), excited state lifetime and light harvesting efficiency (LHE) were investigated. Overall, these theoretical studies suggest that doped and co-doped g-C3N4 are excellent candidates for electronic semiconductor devices, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), solar cells, and photodetectors.

Metric and fault-tolerant metric dimension for GeSbTe superlattice chemical structure

The concept of metric dimension has many applications, including optimizing sensor placement in networks and identifying influential persons in social networks, which aids in effective resource allocation and focused interventions; finding the source of a spread in an arrangement; canonically labeling graphs; and inserting typical information in low-dimensional Euclidean spaces. In a graph G, the set S⊆V(G) of minimum vertices from which all other verticescan be uniquely determined by the distances to the vertices in S is called the resolving set. The cardinality of the resolving set is called the metric dimension. The set S is called fault-tolerant resolving set if S\{v} is still a resolving set of G. The minimum cardinality of such a set S is called fault-tolerant metric dimension of G. GeSbTe super lattice is the latest chemical compound to have electronic material that is capable of non-volatile storing phase change memories with minimum energy usage. In this work, we calculate the resolving set (fault tolerant resolving set) to find the metric dimension(fault-tolerant metric dimension) for the molecular structure of the GeSbTe lattice. The results may be useful in comparing network structure and categorizing the structure of the GeSbTe lattice.

Predictive ability of physiochemical properties of benzene derivatives using Ve-degree of end vertices-based entropy

Topological indices relate chemical structure to chemical reactivity, physical properties, and biological activity. Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSPR) are mathematical models proposed for the correlation of various types of chemical reactivity, biological activity, and physical properties with topological indices/entropies. In this article, we have proposed the QSPR between the ve-degree of end vertices of edge based entropies and the physiochemical properties of benzene derivatives. We have designed a Maple-based algorithm for the computation of entropies. The relationship was analyzed using SPSS. We have shown that the physiochemical properties such as critical pressure, Henry's law, critical temperature, Gibb's energy, logP, critical volume, and molar refractivity can be predicted by entropies. All the results were highly positive and significant. The Randić, Balaban, and redefined third Zagreb entropies showed the best relations with physiochemical properties.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The effect of average scores in reading, mathematics and science on innovation and income: A quantitative analysis for a group of countries

The purpose of this paper is to The goal of this study is to empirically examine how innovation and income are affected by PISA scores-average scores in math, science, and reading. The specific objectives are threefold. First, we develop a conceptual model that describes the connection between income, innovation, and educational quality as determined by PISA scores. Second, we perform an empirical analysis to see if educational quality as assessed by the PISA scores has an impact on innovation.Third, we also test whether the PISA scores have a positive effect on income (GDP per capita). Using panel mode, we find that education quality has a significant and positive effect on innovation and income. Particularly high math test scores have been found to be an important subject that increases per capita income and innovation.

Exploring the Intertwined Nexus between Globalization, Energy Usage, Economic Complexity, and Environmental Quality in Emerging Asian Economies: A Pathway Towards a Greener Future

The study aims to examine the relationship between carbon emissions and ecological footprints with economic complexity, core pollution indicators, urbanization, globalization, and renewable and non-renewable energy consumption in eight emerging Asian economies from 1971 to 2020. A panel data framework that considers cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity was used for analysis. The Pedroni and Johnsen Fisher cointegration showed that carbon emission, ecological footprint, renewable and non-renewable energy consumption, economic complexity, globalization, and urbanization confirmed the presence of cointegration. Moreover, fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DLOS) indicated that globalization, non-renewable energy consumption, and economic complexity increase emission and ecological footprint in the long run, whereas renewable energy generated through biomass, solar, and wind decreases environmental degradation. Furthermore, urbanization also negatively affects the environment. From a policy perspective, policymakers in these countries may manage their natural resources efficiently by escalating the share of renewables in total energy production, offering tax holidays, incentives and encouraging companies to install clean energy plant, and providing support to research and development-oriented companies to engage in research activities to reduce the cost of production of renewable energy.

Does organizational justice facet matters in knowledge hiding?

To address the gap of extant literature and to assess employees' in-role and innovative performance, a model was developed and tested through organizational justice facets- procedural, distributive, and interactional justice with knowledge hiding facets, well-being facets and professional commitment. The purpose of the present research is to inspect the role of justice facets in shaping knowledge hiding behavior through optimistic role of well-being toward employee performance with the remedial role of professional commitment under the shadow of Psychological Ownership Knowledge Theory (POKT) and Social Exchange Theory (SET). For that persistence, present research acknowledged the practices and connotations of knowledge hiding because limited research is prevailed on the contrasting influence of knowledge hiding practice. Data were collected through random sampling via dual-wave survey questionnaire from 613 employees working in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Structural Equation Modeling was carried out through AMOS (24.0) and SPSS (25.0). Findings reveal that the association with in-role and innovative performance with justice is positively associated through well-being, and the relationship between knowledge hiding and job performance was also positively associated. This study argued that knowledge sharing reshapes knowledge hiding behavior that plays a negative role in organizational performance. This study suggested the notable contribution in the direction of organizational context of developing realm settings by revealing the predecessor character of knowledge hiding and endorses the organizational justice to persuade top management for in-role and innovative performance enhancement.

Land characteristics and land suitability assessment for Styrax sp. in Humbang Hasundutan Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Styrax sp. is a valuable latex-producing plant in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia, which requires sustainable land use practices to maintain its production and ecological value. This study aimed to assess the land characteristics and suitability of Styrax sp. in Humbang Hasundutan Regency, North Sumatra Province, to support the development of sustainable land use practices for the cultivation of this plant. The study employed a survey method to collect soil samples and evaluated the land suitability using a matching method and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. The results showed that Styrax sp. had moderately suitable land suitability in three villages in Humbang Hasundutan Regency. The limiting factors for land suitability were identified as rooting media, nutrient retention, water availability, and erosion hazard. These findings have important implications for the development of sustainable land use practices for Styrax sp. cultivation in the region, which can contribute to the conservation of this valuable plant species and the maintenance of ecological balance. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the land characteristics and suitability of Styrax sp. in North Sumatra Province and highlights the importance of sustainable land use practices for the conservation of valuable plant species.

Synergism of Co/Na in BiVO4 microstructures for visible-light driven degradation of toxic dyes in water

In this work, we report a synergism of Co/Na in Co@Na-BiVO₄ microstructures to boost the photocatalytic performance of bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) catalysts. A co-precipitation method has been employed to synthesize blossom-like BiVO₄ microstructures with incorporation of Co and Na metals, followed by calcination at 350 °C. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared photocatalysts are characterized by XRD, Raman, FTIR, SEM, EDX, AFM, UV-vis/DRS and PL techniques. Dye degradation activities are evaluated by UV-vis spectroscopy, in which methylene blue, Congo red and rhodamine B dyes are chosen for comparative study. The activities of bare BiVO₄, Co-BiVO₄, Na-BiVO₄, and Co@Na-BiVO₄ are compared. To evaluate the ideal conditions, various factors that affect degradation efficiencies have been investigated. The results of this study show that the Co@Na-BiVO₄ photocatalysts exhibit higher activity than bare BiVO₄, Co-BiVO₄ or Na-BiVO₄. The higher efficiencies were attributed to the synergistic role of Co and Na contents. This synergism assists in better charge separation and more electron transportation to the active sites during the photoreaction.

Facile transfer of surface plasmon electrons of Au-NPs to Zn3V2O8 surfaces: a case study of sunlight driven H2 generation from water splitting

For future energy perspectives, an effective way to produce H2 from water splitting is suggested using Zn3V2O8 photocatalyst as a semiconductor support. Further, to enhance the catalytic efficiency and stability of the catalyst, gold metal was deposited over the Zn3V2O8 surface by a chemical reduction method. For comparison, the Zn3V2O8 and gold-fabricated catalysts (i.e., Au@Zn3V2O8) were used for water splitting reactions. For structural and optical properties, various techniques, including XRD, UV-Vis DRS, FTIR, PL, Raman, SEM, EDX, XPS and EIS were used for the characterizations. The scanning electron microscope revealed the pebble-shaped morphology of the Zn3V2O8 catalyst. The FTIR and EDX results confirmed the purity and structural and elemental composition of the catalysts. Overall, 7.05 mmol g-1 h-1 H2 generation was observed over Au1.0@Zn3V2O8, which was ten times higher than bare Zn3V2O8. The results revealed that the higher H2 activities could be attributed to the Schottky barriers and surface plasmon electrons (SPRs). Thus the Au@Zn3V2O8 catalysts have potential to deliver higher hydrogen generation than Zn3V2O8 by water splitting.

Comparison of the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles and extract of Acorus calamus applied topically on surgical wounds inflicted on the skin of rabbits

Antibiotics are used for postsurgical wound healing purposes but unfortunately, resistance against them demands some alternatives for quick recovery. Sepsis of wounds is a challenge for medical as well as veterinary professionals. Nanoparticles have significant advantages in wound treatment and drug resistance reversal. This study was conducted to appreciate emerging alternates of antibiotics like zinc oxide nanoparticles and plant extracts in topical application. Zinc oxide is considered a good wound healer and its nanoparticles are easy to access. So, the efficacies of zinc oxide nanoparticles and sweet flag plant extract ointments were tested to compare modern and traditional therapeutics as sweet flag is considered a pure medicinal plant. Rabbits were selected for this study due to the healing properties of their skin. Wounds were inflicted on the thoracolumbar region and treated for 29 days post-surgically daily with normal saline and the ointment of zinc oxide nanoparticles and sweet flag extract ointment, prepared in a hydrophilic solvent. Wound shrinkage was observed daily and histopathological analysis was made and results were compared. Zinc oxide nanoparticles ointment showed the most satisfactory results for every parameter included in the study. No side effects of its topical application were observed. Healing was normal without any complications. The preparations of zinc oxide nanoparticles may help in the era of antibiotic resistance as topical drugs in the future.

Structural Diversity, Spectral Data and Pharmacological Effects of Genus Nigella

Nigella is one of the most studied plant because of its pharmacological properties like anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective, hepatoprotective and anti-cancerous. In this study, about 20 species of genus Nigella were reviewed and among them N. damascene, N. glandulifera and N. sativa are widely studied for their phytochemical and pharmacological effects. This review describes the phytochemical composition of genus Nigella, which constitutes many of the compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and terpenoids. These compounds were identified by different spectral techniques. The spectral detail of some advanced techniques including EIS-MS, UV-Visible, IR, 13C and 1H NMR of the some important phytoconstituents of Nigella spp. has been compiled for the first time in this review which will be helpful to explore further investigate the chemical composition of this genus.

Tunable sulphur doping on CuFe2O4 nanostructures for the selective elimination of organic dyes from water

In this work, sulphur doped copper ferrites (S-CuFe₂O₄) photocatalysts were successfully synthesized for the first time using the facile hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized photocatalysts were characterized through XRD, Raman, TGA, FT-IR, UV-Vis-DRS, SEM, EDX and PL techniques. The results revealed that doping with sulphur has been found to be a suitable alternative that causes strain in the lattices as anions replace the oxygen from the CuFe₂O₄ nanostructures. Due to sulphur dopants, photocatalysts are able to efficiently trap and transfer the photoinduced charges, which readily suppress charge recombination. A UV-Vis spectrophotometer was used to monitor the degradation of selective toxic organic dyes (RhB, CR, MO, and CV) in aqueous media. The dye degradation results provide evidence for the surprisingly superior performance of S-CuFe₂O₄ over pristine CuFe₂O₄. On the basis of its efficiencies, this work can be assigned as an excellent candidate for photocatalysis science.

The current developments and future prospects of solar photovoltaic industry in an emerging economy of India

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is a novel and eco-friendly power source. India's vast solar resources present tremendous solar energy use prospects. The solar PV growth in India has spanned over fifty years, with a significant increase during the past decade. To meet the requirements of the rapidly expanding PV power market in India, it is essential to define, scrutinize, and comprehend the industry's development path and features. This study comprehensively analyzes the current state of solar resources, the future growth prospects of the solar PV sector, and the major factors that influence the industry's smooth growth. The study relates to the following five major factors: technological R&D, industrial planning, rules and regulations, power pricing guidelines, and projects enticement programs. To explore these elements, a multifaceted approach consisting of an inclusive literature research, statistical data inquiry, legislation review, and regulatory and policy analysis is undertaken. Analyzing the usual occurrences, the development process, and the features of the five elements permits the growth of development route models. The findings of this study provide information regarding the current development and future prospects of PV power sector in India. In today's rapidly changing social, economic, and technological landscapes, policymakers have the opportunity to gain better understanding from the ever-evolving practices and new advances in the business paradigm.

Management of Primary Pterygium with Intralesional Bevacizumab (AVASTIN) Injection

Objective: To determine the management of primary Pterygium with intralesional Bevacizumab (AVASTIN) Injection. Study Design: Quasi-Experimental Study Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Oct 2019 to Mar 2020. Methodology: Sixty patients of Primary Pterygium with Grades 1, 2, and 3 were included. Pre-Intralesional injection evaluation includes the Ocular surface disease Index (OSDI), grading of Pterygium and ophthalmic examination, refraction,slit lamp bimicroscopy, fundoscopy, tonometry, and corneal topography. After four weeks of intralesional injection,reassessment was done. Results: A total of 60 participants with the mean age of the participants was 44.06±14.83 years were included in the study. In 26(43.3%) patients, grittiness, epiphora, redness, and photophobia were reported, and 16(26.6%) patients reported blurring of vision that improved in 100% of patients after intralesional injections. There was statistical significance (p-value ≤0.05) in means of K1, Sim K astigmatism, Surface asymmetry index, Surface Regularity Index, Grade of Pterygium, and Ocular surface disease index before and after the intralesional injection of Bevacizumab. However, no significant difference was recorded in Uncorrected Visual Acuity, Best Corrected Visual Acuity, and K2 parameters in pre and post-injection states (p-value ≥0.05).Only 7(11.6%) patients reported subconjunctival haemorrhage after the procedure. Conclusions: Treatment of Primary Pterygium with intralesional Bevacizumab injection successfully improves symptoms,Ocular Surface Disease Index, and reduces corneal astigmatism with minimum complications.

Coagulation Profile in Diabetes and Its Association with Diabetic Microvascular Complications

Objective: To investigate the hemostatic parameters and to assess their relationship with microvascular complications in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul to Dec 2020. Methodology: Patients with type-2 diabetes aged 40-70 years of both genders were included. We included sixty subjects with diabetes and sixty healthy individuals. HBA1c, prothrombin time, activated partial thrombin time, and fibrinogen levels were measured in both groups, and retinal photographs were taken. Results: The platelet count was in the normal range for both groups but significantly lower in cases compared to controls (177.5±18.3 vs 231.2±18.1, p<0.001). Similarly, the mean fibrinogen level was significantly higher among cases compared to controls (298.2±11.4 vs 256.6±6.5, p<0.001). No significant difference was found between mean prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time among the groups. Most complicated cases belonged to the group with more than 7% glycosylated haemoglobin compared to non-complicated cases (p<0.001). A significant association between the level of HBA1c and diabetic retinopathy was found. Conclusion: The study showed that with a rise in glycemic index, the coagulation profile derangement occurs, with an increase in fibrinogen levels, decrease in platelets count and increase in microvascular complications.

Comparison of Frequency of Pseudo-Exfoliation Syndrome in Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery in Different Regional Hospitals of Pakistan

Objective: To compare the frequency of Pseudo-Exfoliation Syndrome (PXS) in patients undergoing cataract surgery in different regional hospitals in Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Three Tertiary Care Hospitals of Karachi, Rawalakot and Skardu Pakistan, from Sep 2017 to May 2020. Methodology: Patients aged 45 years and more undergoing age-related cataract surgery were evaluated for Pseudo-Exfoliation Syndrome. Initially, each patient underwent a complete outpatient ophthalmological workup. Demographic details like age and gender were noted. All the patients were screened for hypertension and diabetes mellitus. In addition, patients were screened for pseudo-exfoliation syndrome. Congenital, developmental, secondary and traumatic cataracts were excluded. Results: A total of 1882 patients were included in the study. Pseudo-exfoliation was carried out in 249(13.23%) patients. In Hospital-A, 23(3.23%); in Hospital-B, 145(14.92%) and Hospital-C, 81(40.70%) of the patients had pseudo-exfoliation. The frequency of pseudo-exfoliation syndrome was significantly more in Hospital-C and then in Hospital-B and least in HospitalA (p<0.01). Conclusion: Pseudo-exfoliation syndrome was significantly more common in Skardu and then in Rawalakot and least in Malir, which in the same order have more latitude away from the equator, have less average annual temperature and are situated at higher altitudes.

Quantitative structure-properties relationship analysis of Eigen-value-based indices using COVID-19 drugs structure

Topological indices are an important method for understanding the fundamental topology of chemical structures. Quantitative structure properties relationship (QSPR) is an analytical approach for breaking down a molecule into a sequence of numerical values that describe the chemical and physical characteristics of the molecule. In this article, we have developed the QSPR analysis between eigenvalue-based topological indices and physical properties of COVID-19 drugs to predict the significance level of eigenvalue based indices. We have to use MATLAB for the computation of indices and SPSS for analysis. We show that positive interia index, signless Laplacian Estrada index and Randić energy are the best predictors of molar reactivity, polar surface area and molecular weight, respectively.

Growth of villi-microstructured bismuth vanadate (Vm-BiVO4) for photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet dye

In this work, villi-microstructured Au-loaded BiVO₄ photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, Raman, UV-Vis-DRS, PL, SEM and EDX techniques. The presence of metallic Au on the surface of Vm-BiVO₄ support boosts the photocatalytic performance to degrade toxic crystal violet dye. The enhanced activities were attributed to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Au which efficiently broadens the visible light response. SPR increases the electron population in Vm-BiVO₄ and forms a Schottky barrier at the interface between Au and Vm-BiVO₄ which enhances the separation efficiency of photoinduced charges. Various factors affecting photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet (CV) were studied to find optimum conditions. In addition, a radical trapping study indicates that ˙O₂ ^- is the main active species in the degradation process of cationic CV dye. All photocatalytic degradation reactions were monitored by UV-Vis spectrophotometry (PerkinElmer/λ-365).

Frequency of Dry Eye Diseases among Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Pakistan

Objective: To assess the frequency of dry eye among children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Pakistan Naval Ship Hafeez Hospital, Islamabad Pakistan, from Mar to Aug 2021. Methodology: Children aged 7-15 years reporting to the PNS Hafeez Hospital, OPD were included in the study. A proforma was used to record the demographics and screen time of the children. In addition, an ophthalmic examination was conducted to assess the dry eye status of the children using the Schirmer-II test. Results: Seventy-three children participated in the study. Their mean age was 11.08±2.42 years. There were 40(54.8%) boys and 33 (45.2%) girls. These children had a mean daily screen time of 7.23±2.77hours. Children with dry eye had a greater amount of screen time (8.75±2.11hours) as compared to those with normal tear function (6.05±2.66 hours; p<0.001). In addition,the screen time of children with dry eyes was significantly greater than those with normal tear functions (p=0.001). Conclusion: Children with dry eyes were reported to have more screen time and more online classes than their counterparts with normal tear functions. Authorities should consider resuming face-to-face sessions for all school children.

Comparison of Surgically Induced Astigmatism between Superior and Supero-Temporal Incisions in Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery

Objective: To compare visual outcomes and differences in surgically induced astigmatism between superior and supero temporal incisions in manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS). Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Rawalakot Pakistan, from Jan to Jun 2017. Methodology: Sixty patients were selected and divided into two groups of 30 patients each. One Group was given a superior incision, the other was made the supero-temporal incision, and Manual small incision cataract surgery was performed.Preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, keratometry and refractive data were collected for all patients. In addition,surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) was analysed using a line SIA calculator. Results: The mean age of our patients was 59.57±10.13 years. Post-operatively, the visual acuity significantly improved in both groups. Mean induced astigmatism due to surgery came out to be 0.75±0.44 D for the superior incision and 0.45±0.18 D for the supero- temporal incision. The study found that in the Superior Incision-Group, induced astigmatism was slightly higher than in the Supero-Temporal-Group. Moreover, the Supero-Temporal-Group had a better uncorrected visual outcome than the Superior Incision-Group. Conclusion: Overall, manual small incision cataract surgery has good visual outcomes. Manual small incision cataract surgery through supero-temporal incision was found to have a better visual outcome with less surgically induced astigmatism than the superior incision.

Recent advancements in engineered biopolymeric-nanohybrids: A greener approach for adsorptive-remediation of noxious metals from aqueous matrices

Industrial wastewater is causing serious health problems due to presence of large concentrations of toxic metals. Removal of these metals is still a big challenge using pristine natural biopolymers due to their low surface area, water solubility, and poor recovery. Developing biopolymeric composites with other materials has attained attention because they possess a high surface area and structural porosity, high reactivity, and less water solubility. In simple words, biopolymeric nanohybrids have great adsorption capacity for heavy metals. Biopolymeric materials are abundant, low cost, biodegradable, and possess different functional moieties (carboxyl, amine, hydroxyl, and carbonyl) which play a vital role to adsorb metal ions through various inter-linkages (i.e., electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, ion exchange, chelation, etc.). Biopolymeric nanohybrids have been proven a potent tool in environmental remediation such as the abatement of heavy metal ions from polluted water. Herein, we have reported the adsorption potential of various biopolymers (cellulose, chitosan, pectin, gelatin, and silk proteins) for the removal of heavy metals. This review discusses the suitability of biopolymeric nanohybrids as an adsorbent for heavy metals, their synthesis, modification, adsorption potential, and adsorption mechanism along with best fitted thermodynamic and kinetic models. The influence of pH, contact time, and adsorbent dose on adsorption potential has also been discussed in detail. Lastly, the challenges, research gaps and recommendations have been presented. This review concludes that biopolymers in combination with other materials such as metal-based nanoparticles, clay, and carbon-based materials are excellent materials to remove metallic ions from wastewater. Significant adsorption of heavy metals was obtained at a moderate pH (5-6). Contact time and adsorbent dose also affect the adsorption of heavy metals in certain ways. The Pseudo-first order model fits the data for the initial period of the first step of the reaction. Kinetic studies of different adsorption processes of various biopolymeric nanohybrids described that for majority of bionanohybrids, Pseudo-second order fitted the experimental data very well. Functionalized biopolymeric nanohybrids being biodegradable, environment friendly, cost-effective materials have great potential to adsorb heavy metal ions. These may be the future materials for environmental remediation.

Bandwidth Enhancement and Generation of CP of Yagi-Uda-Shape Feed on a Rectangular DRA for 5G Applications

A wideband circularly polarized rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) fed by a single feeding mechanism has been studied theoretically and experimentally. The purpose of the study is to determine how adding a parasitic strip next to the flat surface metallic feed would affect various far- and near-field antenna characteristics. Initially, the basic antenna design, i.e., the T-shape feed known as antenna A, produced a 4.81% impedance matching bandwidth (|S11| -10 dB). Due to the narrow and undesirable results of the initial antenna design, antenna-A was updated to the antenna-B design, i.e., Yagi-Uda. The antenna-B produced a decent result (7.89% S11) as compared to antenna-A but still needed the bandwidth widened, for this, a parasitic patch was introduced next to the Yagi-Uda antenna on the rectangular DRA at an optimized location to further improve the results. This arrangement produced circular polarization (CP) waves spanning a broad bandwidth of 28.21% (3.59-3.44 GHz) and a broad impedance |S₁₁| bandwidth of around 29.74% (3.71-3.62 GHz). These findings show that, in addition to producing CP, parasite patches also cause the return loss to rise by a factor of almost three times when compared to results obtained with the Yagi-Uda-shape feed alone. Computer simulation technology was used for the simulation (CST-2017). The planned antenna geometry prototype was fabricated and measured. Performance indicators show that the suggested antenna is a good fit for 5G applications. The simulated outcomes and measurements match up reasonably.

First report of Fusarium equiseti causing leaf spots of Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) in Pakistan

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is an important vegetable crop of the Cucurbitaceae family widely cultivated in Pakistan and around the world. In October 2020, a nutrition management trial of Bitter gourd cv. Seminis-200) was conducted on an area of 10,860 sq. ft. (99×110 feet) at the Agricultural Research farm of Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan (30.2601° N, 71.5158° E), Pakistan. Symptoms of large, brown necrotic leaf spots were observed on the leaves of bitter gourd vines. The disease started from the yellowing of leaves within the reticulate venation and turned brown. Irregular brown leaf spots coalesced to form large necrotic areas followed by foliar chlorosis then wilting that occurred very late. There were no crown rot symptoms although there was slight discoloration of roots and when cut longitudinally, browning of tissues was observed. The disease was assessed visually with 37% incidence which resulted in poor quality and yield in terms of reduced size and yellowing of fruit. Infected vines along with the roots were collected for the isolation of pathogen. A total of 34 leaves and 22 root samples were collected from the field for isolation. The leaf, collar and root portions were cut into 0.5 to 1 cm in length and surface disinfected with 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 2-3 minutes followed by washing twice with autoclaved distilled water and after drying, placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium, and incubated at 25±2 °C for one week. The fungal colonies of fluffy white growth with light orange pigment were isolated. For morphological characterization, a total of 4 pure cultures were isolated from leaves, collar region and root by single spore technique on carnation leaf agar (CLA) medium after 15 days of incubation at 25±2℃. Curved and thick-walled macroconidia with elongated or pointed apical characteristic foot-shaped basal cells were produced in sporodochia. Macroconidia with 5-7 septa measured 22.50-41.80 μm × 2.90-4.20 μm (n = 60). Thick, brown with roughened walls and subglobose ellipsoidal chlamydospores were observed in clumps or chains with the dimension of 5.8 to 10.8 μm (n = 20). On morphological characteristics, the fungus was identified as Fusarium equiseti (Corda) Sacc. according to Leslie and Summerell (2006). Two single spore isolates were used for molecular identification by amplifying ribosomal DNA of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region with ITS1/ITS4 primers (White et al. 1990) and for β-tubulin gene region, primers T1/Bt-2b (O'Donnell and Cigelnik, 1997) were used. The obtained sequences were deposited in GenBank with accession numbers MW880179 and MW880198 from the ITS region and BLAST search in GenBank showed 100 and 98.11% alignment with previously published sequences of F. equiseti with accessions OM992323.1and MT558569.1 respectively. Accession number OM867571from the β-tubulin region showed 100% sequence similarity with F. equiseti with accession MN653163.1. For pathogenicity, macroconidia from 2-week-old cultures on CLA medium were harvested to prepare spore suspension (1 × 106 conidia/ml). Koch's postulates were confirmed on nine bitter gourd plants (cv. Seminis-200) by applying spore suspension of fungal inoculum at 3-4 leaf stage separately on leaves by automizer, on collar region after making incision spore suspension was applied and in the root zone, 20ml spore suspension was added whereas distilled water was used as a control with three replications. Plants were kept under controlled conditions in the greenhouse with 65% to 75% humidity and the temperature was maintained at 32±2 °C for one week. After 7-8 days, inoculated plants began to exhibit symptoms of brown, necrotic leaf spots on the leaves of bitter gourd vines followed by yellowing of leaves that eventually turned brown. Roots showed slight discoloration and browning of vascular bundles and finally, the plants wilted after four weeks. while control plants remained symptomless. The symptoms resembled those noticed in the field. The fungus was re-isolated from leaves, collar region and roots, followed by morphological identification, and finally confirmed as F. equiseti. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a leaf spot caused by F. equiseti in a bitter gourd from Pakistan. If the disease is not managed properly, it may cause a drastic effect on yield under favorable environmental conditions. The pathogen may also damage other cucurbitaceous crops cultivated in the area.

At Least 10-fold Higher Lubricity of Molecularly Thin D2O vs H2O Films at Single-Layer Graphene-Mica Interfaces

Interfacial water is a widespread lubricant down to the nanometer scale. We investigate the lubricities of molecularly thin H₂O and D₂O films confined between mica and graphene, via the relaxation of initially applied strain in graphene employing Raman spectroscopy. Surprisingly, the D₂O films are at least 1 order of magnitude more lubricant than H₂O films, despite the similar bulk viscosities of the two liquids. We propose a mechanism based on the known selective permeation of protons vs deuterons through graphene. Permeated protons and left behind hydroxides may form ion pairs clamping across the graphene sheet and thereby hindering the graphene from sliding on the water layer. This explains the lower lubricity but also the hindering diffusivity of the water layer, which yields a high effective viscosity in accordance with findings in dewetting experiments. Our work elucidates an unexpected effect and provides clues to the behavior of graphene on hydrous surfaces.

Hall current and morphological effects on MHD micropolar non-Newtonian tri-hybrid nanofluid flow between two parallel surfaces

In the present work, the magnetohydrodynamic flow and heat transfer of a micropolar tri-hybrid nanofluid between two porous surfaces inside a rotating system has been examined. A tri-hybrid nanofluid is a new idea in the research area, which gives a better heat transfer rate as compared to hybrid nanofluid and nanofluid. We also incorporated the thermal radiation effects and Hall current in this article. The similarity techniques are used to reduce the governing nonlinear PDEs to a set of ODEs. For the numerical solution of the considered problem, we have used the MATLAB-based Bvp4c method. The results are presented for tri-hybrid Fe₃O₄-Al₂O₃-TiO₂/H₂O nanofluid. The main focus of this study is to examine the magnetohydrodynamic heat transfer and tri-hybrid nanofluid flow in a rotating system between two orthogonal permeable plates by taking into account the Hall current and thermal radiation effects. The obtained results have been explained with the help of graphical illustrations and tables. It is observed that the heat transfer rate of tri-hybrid nanofluid is greater than as compared to hybrid nanofluid and nanofluid. The increasing behavior is also noticed in micro rotational velocity for augmented values of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The larger values of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] result in the decrement of SFC and increment in Nusselt number in both (suction and injection) cases.

Synthesis and Biomedical Applications of Zirconium Nanoparticles: Advanced Leaps and Bounds in the Recent Past

Many synthetic routes manufacture zirconium nanoparticles in metal oxide, nitride, and other combination forms. Coupled with other variables such as concentration, pH, and form of precursor used, the various synthetic methods support synthesizing the zirconium metal oxide nanoparticles with changed features. Various synthetic methods were studied, such as sol-gel, hydrothermal, laser ablation, and precipitation. All have different synthetic routes, different precursors and solvents were sued, and the product was characterized by SEM, TEM, photo luminance spectroscopy, UV-absorption spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. X-ray diffraction determined the crystal structure by identifying the crystal shape, arrangement of atoms, and spacing between them. SEM and TEM studied the particle size and morphology of nanoparticles. UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and PL spectroscopy were used for the determination of optical properties of nanoparticles. Zirconium oxide nanoparticles have many applications in the medical field. The review study primarily focuses on the efficient combination of zirconium dioxide with other additive materials and functionalization techniques used to improve the material's properties, assisting the use of the material in hip arthroplasty and bone tissue applications. The development of sophisticated near-infrared (NIR) absorbing small molecules for useful phototheranostic applications was discussed in this paper.

Green Synthesis and Investigation of Surface Effects of α-Fe2O3@TiO2 Nanocomposites by Impedance Spectroscopy

Nanocomposites based on iron oxide/titanium oxide nanoparticles were prepared by employing green synthesis, which involved phytochemical-mediated reduction using ginger extract. XRD confirmed the composite formation, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was employed to investigate the particle size, particle morphology, and elemental analysis. SEM indicated the formation of particles with non-uniform shape and size distribution, while EDX confirmed the presence of Fe, Ti and oxygen in their elemental state. The surface effects were investigated by Fourier transform infrared radiation (FTIR) and impedance spectroscopy (IS) at room temperature. IS confirmed the co-existence of grains and grain boundaries. Thus, FTIR and IS analysis helped establish a correlation between enhanced surface activity and the synthesis route adopted. It was established that the surface activity was sensitive to the synthesis route adopted. The sample density, variation in grain size, and electrical resistivity were linked with surface defects, and these defects were related to temperature. The disorder and defects created trap centers at the sample's surface, leading to adsorption of CO₂ from the environment.

Isolated Chorioretinal Coloboma: A Case Report

Ocular coloboma is a rare congenital anomaly that arises due to an abnormality in embryogenesis. It occurs due to failed fusion of the embryonic fissure resulting in a persistent defect. Colobomas may present with vision loss but are most commonly asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally. In this article, we present a case of asymptomatic chorioretinal coloboma diagnosed on routine screening. The patient was managed with prophylactic argon laser retinopexy to prevent complications leading to visual impairment in the future.

Persebaran Habitat Keong Perantara Schistosomiasis di Dataran Tinggi Lindu, Kabupaten Sigi, Sulawesi Tengah

ABSTRACT Schistosomiasis in Indonesia is caused by the trematode worm, Schistosoma japonicum, with the snail Oncomelania hupensis lindoensis as the intermediate host. The presence of these snails is an indicator of determining the habitat area for the intermediate host of schistosomiasis. The aim of the study was to map the distribution of snail habitat in the Lindu endemic area. An observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted in August 2021. The study was conducted in two villages in the Lindu Highlands, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi Province. The number of snail habitats in the Lindu Plateau found 25 habitats, covering an area of ​​27,088 m2. Snail density and infection rate (IR) were found to be 27.06 snails/minute (IR 0.68%). Based on the research, it can be concluded that the distribution pattern of the snail habitat in Lindu was clustered in certain areas. Habitat in Anca Village was most widely found in neglected coffee plantation areas, and a small part in primary forest areas. Snail habitat in Tomado Village was mostly found in watersheds, parapa grass in swamp areas, and uncultivated rice fields. Environmental management that can be carried out by multi sectors are the creating of rice fields, the creation of fish ponds, and the diversion of community paths in the Lore Lindu National Park area that passes through the habitat of schistosomiasis intermediate snails. ABSTRAK Schistosomiasis di Indonesia disebabkan oleh cacing trematoda jenis Schistosoma japonicum dengan hospes perantara keong Oncomelania hupensis lindoensis. Keberadaan keong tersebut sebagai indikator penetapan daerah habitat hospes perantara schistosomiasis. Tujuan penelitian adalah untuk untuk memetakan distribusi habitat keong di wilayah endemis Lindu. Jenis penelitian adalah observasional dengan desain potong lintang yang dilakukan pada bulan Agustus tahun 2021. Penelitian dilakukan di Desa Anca dan Tomado Kecamatan Lindu Kabupaten Sigi, Provinsi Sulawesi Tengah. Jumlah habitat keong di Dataran Tinggi Lindu ditemukan 25 habitat, seluas 27.088 m2. Kepadatan keong dan tingkat infection rate (IR) ditemukan sebesar 27,06 keong/menit (IR 0,68%). Berdasarkan penelitian dapat disimpulkan bahwa pola persebaran habitat keong di Lindu adalah mengelompok/clustered pada daerah tertentu. Habitat di Desa Anca ditemukan paling banyak di daerah kebun kopi yang terabaikan, dan sebagian kecil di daerah hutan primer dengan kanopi tertutup. Habitat keong di Desa Tomado paling banyak ditemukan di daerah aliran air, parapa, rawa, dan sawah tidak diolah. Manajemen lingkungan yang dapat dilakukan oleh lintas sektor yaitu pencetakan sawah, pembuatan kolam ikan, dan pengalihan jalur masyarakat dalam Kawasan Taman Nasional Lore Lindu yang melewati habitat keong perantara schistosomiasis.