Structural modification of A-C-A configured X-PCIC acceptor molecule for efficient photovoltaic properties with low energy loss in organic solar cells

Modification of terminal acceptors of non-fullerene organic solar cell molecule with different terminal acceptors can help in screening of molecules to develop organic photovoltaic cells with improved performance. Thus, in this work, seven new molecules with an unfused core have been designed and thoroughly investigated. DFT/TD-DFT simulations were performed on studied molecules to explore the ground and excited state characteristics. UV-Visible analysis revealed the red shift in the absorption spectrum (reaching 781 nm) owing to their smaller energy gap up to 1.94 eV. Furthermore, transition density matrix analysis demonstrated that peripheral acceptors extract the electron density from the core effectively. The effectiveness of our investigated molecules as materials for high-performing organic photovoltaic cells has been shown by an examination of their electron and hole mobilities for fast charge transfer. When combined with PTB7-Th, all molecules displayed high open circuit voltage. XP5 molecule exhibited highest open circuit voltage (1.70 eV) and lowest energy loss of 0.30 eV. All designed molecules exhibit the improved aforementioned parameters, which shows that these molecules can be used to develop competent solar devices in future.

Rapid and sensitive in situ detection of heavy metals in fish using enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Heavy metals have been widely applied in industry, agriculture, and other fields because of their outstanding physics and chemistry properties. They are non-degradable even at low concentrations, causing irreversible harm to the human and other organisms. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop high accuracy and sensitivity as well as stable techniques for their detection. Raman scattering spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) were used parallelly to detect heavy metal ions such as Hg, Cd, and Pb of different concentrations in fish samples. The concentration of the heavy metals is varied from 5 ppb to 5 ppm. Despite the satisfactory recoveries of AAS, their drawbacks are imperative for an alternative technique. In Raman scattering spectroscopy, the intensities and areas of the characteristic peaks are increased with increasing the concentration of the heavy metals. For Hg concentration ≥ 1 ppm, a slight shift is observed in the peak position. The obtained values of peak intensity and peak area are modeled according to Elvoich, Pseudo-first order, Pseudo-second order, and asymptotic1 exponential model. The best modeling was obtained using the Elovich model followed by the asymptotic1 exponential model. The introduced Raman spectroscopy-based approach for on-site detection of trace heavy metal pollution in fish samples is rapid, low-cost, and simple to implement, increasing its visibility in food safety and industrial applications.

The empty pelvis syndrome: a core data set from the PelvEx collaborative

BACKGROUND

Empty pelvis syndrome (EPS) is a significant source of morbidity following pelvic exenteration (PE), but is undefined. EPS outcome reporting and descriptors of radicality of PE are inconsistent; therefore, the best approaches for prevention are unknown. To facilitate future research into EPS, the aim of this study is to define a measurable core outcome set, core descriptor set and written definition for EPS. Consensus on strategies to mitigate EPS was also explored.

METHOD

Three-stage consensus methodology was used: longlisting with systematic review, healthcare professional event, patient engagement, and Delphi-piloting; shortlisting with two rounds of modified Delphi; and a confirmatory stage using a modified nominal group technique. This included a selection of measurement instruments, and iterative generation of a written EPS definition.

RESULTS

One hundred and three and 119 participants took part in the modified Delphi and consensus meetings, respectively. This encompassed international patient and healthcare professional representation with multidisciplinary input. Seventy statements were longlisted, seven core outcomes (bowel obstruction, enteroperineal fistula, chronic perineal sinus, infected pelvic collection, bowel obstruction, morbidity from reconstruction, re-intervention, and quality of life), and four core descriptors (magnitude of surgery, radiotherapy-induced damage, methods of reconstruction, and changes in volume of pelvic dead space) reached consensus-where applicable, measurement of these outcomes and descriptors was defined. A written definition for EPS was agreed.

CONCLUSIONS

EPS is an area of unmet research and clinical need. This study provides an agreed definition and core data set for EPS to facilitate further research.

Fabrication and characterization of NiCu/GO and NiCu/rGO nanocomposites for fuel cell application

This study investigated the electrochemical behavior of NiCu, NiCu/GO, and NiCu/rGO nanocomposites designed by combining a modified Hummers' method and hydrothermal technique. The prepared nanocomposites are tested as electrocatalysts in direct alcohol oxidation fuel cells (DAFCs) to identify the role of GO and rGO as catalyst supports for the enhancement of the NiCu composite performance. The production of the NiCu/GO and NiCu/rGO composites was demonstrated by FTIR spectroscopy, EDX, and SEM analyses. In DAFCs experiments, NiCu/rGO has better catalytic activity than pure NiCu and NiCu/GO composites, whereas the use of rGO and GO as supports enhances the performance of NiCu by 468.2% and 377.7% in methanol and 255.6% and 105.9% in ethanol, respectively. The higher performance was caused by the increased density of active dots and the combined electronic effects in the designed catalysts. The stabilities of the catalysts and charge carriers' dynamics are studied using chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Designing Thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione Core-Based, A2-D-A1-D-A2-Type Acceptor Molecules for Promising Photovoltaic Parameters in Organic Photovoltaic Cells

Nonfullerene-based organic solar cells can be utilized as favorable photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices due to their enhanced life span and efficiency. In this research, seven new molecules were designed to improve the working efficiency of organic solar cells by utilizing a terminal acceptor modification approach. The perceived A2-D-A1-D-A2 configuration-based molecules possess a lower band gap ranging from 1.95 to 2.21 eV compared to the pre-existing reference molecule (RW), which has a band gap of 2.23 eV. The modified molecules also exhibit higher λmax values ranging from 672 to 768 nm in the gaseous and 715-839 nm in solvent phases, respectively, as compared to the (RW) molecule, which has λmax values at 673 and 719 nm in gas and chloroform medium, respectively. The ground state geometries, molecular planarity parameter, and span of deviation from the plane were analyzed to study the planarity of all of the molecules. The natural transition orbitals, the density of state, molecular electrostatic potential, noncovalent interactions, frontier molecular orbitals, and transition density matrix analysis of all studied molecules were executed to validate the optoelectronic properties of these molecules. Improved charge mobilities and dipole moments were observed, as newly designed molecules possessed lower internal reorganization energies. The open circuit voltage (Voc) of W4, W5, W6, and W7 among newly designed molecules was improved as compared to the reference molecule. These results elaborate on the superiority of these novel-designed molecules over the pre-existing (RW) molecule as potential blocks for better organic solar cell applications.

Exploring the Electronic, Optical, and Charge Transfer Properties of A-D-A-Type IDTV-ThIC-Based Molecules To Enhance Photovoltaic Performance of Organic Solar Cells

Improving the charge mobility and optoelectronic properties of indacenodithiophene-based small molecule acceptors is a key challenge to improving overall efficiency. In this current research, seven newly designed molecules (DT1-DT7) comprising the indacenodithiophene-based core are presented to tune energy levels, enhance charge mobility, and improve the photovoltaic performance of IDTV-ThIC molecules via density functional theory. All the molecules were designed by end-capped modification by substituting terminal acceptors of IDTV-ThIC with strong electron-withdrawing moieties. Among all the examined structures, DT1 has proved itself a superior molecule in multiple aspects, including higher λmax in chloroform (787 nm) and gaseous phase (727 nm), narrow band gap (2.16 eV), higher electron affinity (3.31 eV), least excitation energy (1.57 eV), and improved charge mobility due to low reorganization energy and higher excited state lifetime (2.37 ns) when compared to the reference (IDTV-ThIC) and other molecules. DT5 also showed remarkable improvement in different parameters, such as the lowest exciton binding energy (0.41 eV), leading to easier charge moveability. The improved open-circuit voltage of DT4 and DT5 makes them proficient molecules exhibiting the charge transfer phenomenon. The enlightened outcomes of these molecules can pave a new route to develop efficient organic solar cell devices using these molecules, especially DT1, DT4, and DT5.

Approach toward Low Energy Loss in Symmetrical Nonfullerene Acceptor Molecules Inspired by Insertion of Different π-Spacers for Developing Efficient Organic Solar Cells

In this quantum approach, by adding bridge/π-spacer fragments between the donor and acceptor parts of a newly constructed DF-PCIC (A-D-A type) molecule, it is the aim to improve the photovoltaic characteristics of organic solar cells (OSCs). After π-spacer insertion into the reference molecule (DF-R), six new molecules (DF-M1 to DF-M6) were designed. The optoelectronic attributes of newly inspected molecules were theoretically calculated using MPW1PW91/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. All newly proposed molecules possessed a lower band gap (Eg), a higher value of absorption, lower reorganization energy, greater dipole moment, and lower energies of excitations than the DF-R molecule. The frontier molecular orbital study proclaimed that the DF-M1 molecule has the lowest band gap of 1.62 eV in comparison to the 2.41 eV value of DF-R. Absorption properties represented that DF-M1 and DF-M2 molecules show the highest absorption values of up to 1006 and 1004 nm, respectively, in the near-infrared region. Regarding the reorganization energy, DF-M2 has the lowest value of λe (0.0683896 eV) and the lowest value of λh (0.1566471 eV). DF-M2 and DF-M5 manifested greater dipole moments with the values of 5.514665 and 7.143434 D, respectively. The open circuit voltage (VOC) of all the acceptors was calculated with J61, a donor complex. DF-M4 and DF-M6 molecules showed higher values of VOC and fill factor than the DF-R molecule. Based on the given results, it was supposed that all the newly presented molecules might prove themselves to be better than the reference and thus might be of great interest to experimentalists. Thus, they are suggested to be used to develop proficient OSC devices with improved photovoltaic prospects in the near future.

Facile synthesis of carbon quantum dot/silver nanocomposite and its antimicrobial, catalytic and sensing applications

Environmentally benign synthesis of nanocomposite, a pivotal facet of nanotechnology, and gaining prominence due to the increasing demand for facile, sustainable, and safe synthesis methods. The present research reports an facile/cost-effective method for the preparation of carbon dots (CDs) and carbon dot silver nanocomposites ( CD@AgNCs) via a hydrothermal treatment of peanut shells. The well-dispersed and spherical CDs with an average diameter of 5-6 nm were obtained and further employed for the preparation of CD@AgNCs. The formation of CD@AgNCs. was confirmed by optical and microscopic studies and ared shift in the λmax from 277 nm (CDs) to 450 nm (CD@AgNCs) with a size range of 30-40 nm was observed. The synthesized CD@AgNCs exhibit excellent catalytic potency for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol, and also displaying a unique interaction and sensing ability towards heavy metal ions (Hg2+), causing a pronounced change in color from reddish-brown to transparent with limit of detection (LOD) of 23.47 ppm. Also, the prepared composite exhibit efficient antimicrobial potential against gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Consequently, this study delves into a unified effective remediation platform with the integration of catalysis, sensing, and antimicrobial potentials.

High-Efficiency and Low-Energy-Loss Organic Solar Cells Enabled by Tuning the End Group Modification of the Terthiophene-Based Acceptor Molecules to Enhance Photovoltaic Properties

In the current study, six nonfullerene small acceptor molecules were designed by end-group modification of terminal acceptors. Density functional theory calculations of all designed molecules were performed, and optoelectronic properties were computed by employing different functionals. Every constructed molecule has a significant bathochromic shift in the maximum absorption value (λmax) except AM6. AM1-AM4 molecules represented a narrow band gap (Eg) and low excitation energy values. The AM1-AM4 and AM6 molecules have higher electron mobility. Comparing AM2 to the reference molecule reveals that AM2 has higher hole mobilities. Compared to the reference molecule, all compounds have excellent light harvesting efficiency values compared to AM1 and AM2. The natural transition orbital investigation showed that AM5 and AM6 had significant electronic transitions. The open-circuit voltage (Voc) values of the computed molecules were calculated by combining the designed acceptor molecules with PTB7-Th. In light of the findings, it is concluded that the designed molecules can be further developed for organic solar cells (OSCs) with superior photovoltaic abilities.

Sn-based materials in photocatalysis: A review

Development and the application of Sn-based materials have become more prevalent in recent years due to concerns regarding the energy crisis, environmental pollution, and the urgent need of constructing inexpensive and highly effective photocatalysis. The recent advancement in Sn-based materials for efficient photocatalysts, such as Sn alloys, Sn oxides, Sn sulfides, Sn selenides, Sn niobates, Sn tantalites, and Sn tungstates, is summarized in this study. Several design ideas for increasing the photoactivity of Sn-based materials in various photocatalytic applications are emphasized. In addition, we considered their present applications in energy generation (H2 evolution, CO2 reduction, and N2 fixation) and environmental remediation (air purification and wastewater treatment). As a result, the current review will deepen the reader's understanding of the properties and potential uses of Sn-based materials in photocatalysis. Hence, this paper will serve as a guide in promoting the domain of Sn-based materials for future photocatalytic technologies.

Design of high-sensitivity La-doped ZnO sensors for CO2 gas detection at room temperature

For the sake of people's health and the safety of the environment, more efforts should be directed towards the fabrication of gas sensors that can operate effectively at room temperature (RT). In this context, increased attention has been paid to developing gas sensors based on rare-earth (RE)-doped transparent conducting oxides (TCO). In this report, lanthanum-doped zinc oxide (La-doped ZnO) films were fabricated by sol-gel and spin-coating techniques. XRD analysis revealed the hexagonal structure of the ZnO films, with preferred growth along the (002) direction. The crystallite size was decreased from 33.21 to 26.41 nm with increasing La content to 4.0 at.%. The UV-vis-NIR indicating that the films are highly transparent (˃ 80%), La-doping increased the UV blocking ability of the films and narrowed the optical band gap (Eg) from 3.275 to 3.125 eV. Additionally, La-doping has influenced the refractive index of the samples. Gas sensing measurements were performed at ambient temperature (30 °C) and a relative humidity (RH) of 30%, employing different flow rates of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas used synthetically with air. Among the evaluated sensors, the ZnO: 4.0 at.% La sensor exhibited the most significant gas response, with a value of 114.22%. This response was observed when the sensor was subjected to a flow rate of 200 SCCM of CO2 gas. Additionally, the sensor revealed a response time of 24.4 s and a recovery time of 44 s. The exceptional performance exhibited by the sensor makes it very appropriate for a wide range of industrial applications. Additionally, we assessed the effect of humidity, selectivity, reusability, repeatability, detection limit, and limit of quantification.

SILAR-Deposited CuO Nanostructured Films Doped with Zinc and Sodium for Improved CO2 Gas Detection

Gas sensing is of significant importance in a wide range of disciplines, including industrial safety and environmental monitoring. In this work, a low-cost SILAR (Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction) technique was employed to fabricate pure CuO, Zn-doped CuO, and Na-doped CuO nanotextured films to efficiently detect CO2 gas. The structures, morphologies, chemical composition, and optical properties of all films are characterized using different tools. All films exhibit a crystalline monoclinic phase (tenorite) structure. The average crystallite size of pure CuO was 83.5 nm, whereas the values for CuO/Zn and CuO/Na were 73.15 nm and 63.08 nm, respectively. Subsequently, the gas-sensing capabilities of these films were evaluated for the detection of CO2 in terms of sensor response, selectivity, recovery time, response time, and limits of detection and quantification. The CuO/Na film offered the most pronounced sensitivity towards CO2 gas, as evidenced by a sensor response of 12.8% at room temperature and a low limit of detection (LoD) of 2.36 SCCM. The response of this sensor increased to 64.5% as the operating temperature increased to 150 °C. This study thus revealed a brand-new CuO/Na nanostructured film as a highly effective and economically viable sensor for the detection of CO2.

Fabrication of ZnO/ZnAl2O4/Au Nanoarrays through DC Electrodeposition Utilizing Nanoporous Anodic Alumina Membranes for Environmental Application

In this study, anodic aluminum oxide membranes (AAOMs) and Au-coated AAOMs (AAOM/Au) with pore diameters of 55 nm and inter-pore spacing of 100 nm are used to develop ZnO/AAOM and ZnO/ZnAl2O4/Au nanoarrays of different morphologies. The effects of the electrodeposition current, time, barrier layer, and Au coating on the morphology of the resultant nanostructures were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy. Energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the structural parameters and elemental composition of the ZnO/ZnAl2O4/Au nanoarray, and the Kirkendall effect was confirmed. The developed ZnO/ZnAl2O4/Au electrode was applied to remove organic dyes from aqueous solutions, including methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO). Using a 3 cm2 ZnO/ZnAl2O4/Au sample, the 100% dye removal for 20 ppm MB and MO dyes at pH 7 and 25 °C was achieved after approximately 50 and 180 min, respectively. According to the kinetics analysis, the pseudo-second-order model controls the dye adsorption onto the sample surface. AAOM/Au and ZnO/ZnAl2O4/Au nanoarrays are also used as pH sensor electrodes. The sensing capability of AAOM/Au showed Nernstian behavior with a sensitivity of 65.1 mV/pH (R2 = 0.99) in a wide pH range of 2-9 and a detection limit of pH 12.6, whereas the ZnO/ZnAl2O4/Au electrode showed a slope of 40.1 ± 1.6 mV/pH (R2 = 0.996) in a pH range of 2-6. The electrode's behavior was more consistent with non-Nernstian behavior over the whole pH range under investigation. The sensitivity equation was given by V(mV) = 482.6 + 372.6 e-0.2095 pH at 25 °C with R2 = 1.0, which could be explained in terms of changes in the surface charge during protonation and deprotonation.

Towards a circular economy: valorization of banana peels by developing bio-composites thermal insulators

The building construction materials are responsible for a large amount of energy and natural resource consumption. In light of the current challenges of resource scarcity and global climate change, the circular economy (CE) is a promising strategy to mitigate pressure on the environment, improve supplying of raw materials, and increase new market and employment opportunities. Developing eco-friendly thermal insulation materials based on agro-waste is a new waste management trend to achieve the sustainability of the resource and energy consumption in the construction sectors. In this work, banana-polystyrene composites were prepared by mixing the banana peels powder (BP) with polystyrene (PS) in different weight ratios (90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40). The physical and thermal properties such as thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), crystallographic structures of the fibers, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were carried out on BP and BP-PS1 that were prepared with ten wt.% and 20 wt.% of polystyrene powder (BP-PS2). The bio-composites results showed low thermal conductivity ranging from 0.028 to 0.030 W/m.K. The BP-PS2 exhibited a lower thermal conductivity of 0.027 W/m.K, while the pure peel powder demonstrated notable thermal stability, indicated by a total weight loss of 66.4% and a high crystallinity value of 56.1%. Furthermore, the thermal analysis (TGA) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) demonstrated that the pure banana peel has the highest thermal stability and crystallinity. These findings indicate that using banana peel-polystyrene composites represents an innovative solution for thermal insulation in buildings as an alternative to conventional materials to reduce energy and resource consumption.

Deep-learning detection of mild cognitive impairment from sleep electroencephalography for patients with Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease which is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in the United States is a serious and complex disease that may progress to mild cognitive impairment and dementia. The early detection of the mild cognitive impairment and the identification of its biomarkers is crucial to support neurologists in monitoring the progression of the disease and allow an early initiation of effective therapeutic treatments that will improve the quality of life for the patients. In this paper, we propose the first deep-learning based approaches to detect mild cognitive impairment in the sleep Electroencephalography for patients with Parkinson's disease and further identify the discriminative features of the disease. The proposed frameworks start by segmenting the sleep Electroencephalography time series into three sleep stages (i.e., two non-rapid eye movement sleep-stages and one rapid eye movement sleep stage), further transforming the segmented signals in the time-frequency domain using the continuous wavelet transform and the variational mode decomposition and finally applying novel convolutional neural networks on the time-frequency representations. The gradient-weighted class activation mapping was also used to visualize the features based on which the proposed deep-learning approaches reached an accurate prediction of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease. The proposed variational mode decomposition-based model offered a superior accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, area under curve, and quadratic weighted Kappa score, all above 99% as compared with the continuous wavelet transform-based model (that achieved a performance that is almost above 92%) in differentiating mild cognitive impairment from normal cognition in sleep Electroencephalography for patients with Parkinson's disease. In addition, the features attributed to the mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease were demonstrated by changes in the middle and high frequency variational mode decomposition components across the three sleep-stages. The use of the proposed model on the time-frequency representation of the sleep Electroencephalography signals will provide a promising and precise computer-aided diagnostic tool for detecting mild cognitive impairment and hence, monitoring the progression of Parkinson's disease.

Fabrication of PES Modified by TiO2/Na2Ti3O7 Nanocomposite Mixed-Matrix Woven Membrane for Enhanced Performance of Forward Osmosis: Influence of Membrane Orientation and Feed Solutions

Water treatment is regarded as one of the essential elements of sustainability. To lower the cost of treatment, the wastewater volume is reduced via the osmotic process. Here, mixed-matrix woven forward osmosis (MMWFO) PES membranes modified by a TiO₂/Na₂Ti₃O₇ (TNT) nanocomposite were fabricated for treating water from different sources. Various techniques were used to characterize the TNT nanocomposite. The crystal structure of TNT is a mix of monoclinic Na₂Ti₃O₇ and anorthic TiO₂ with a preferred orientation of (2-11). The SEM image shows that the surface morphology of the TNT nanocomposite is a forked nano-fur with varying sizes regularly distributed throughout the sample. The impact of TNT wt.% on membrane surface morphologies, functional groups, hydrophilicity, and performance was investigated. Additionally, using distilled water (DW) as the feed solution (FS), the effects of various NaCl concentrations, draw solutions, and membrane orientations on the performance of the mixed-matrix membranes were tested. Different water samples obtained from various sources were treated as the FS using the optimized PES/TNT (0.01 wt.%) MMWFO membrane. Using textile effluent as the FS, the impact of various NaCl DS concentrations on the permeated water volume was investigated. The results show that the MMWFO membrane generated with the TNT nanocomposite at a 0.01 wt.% ratio performed better in FO mode. After 30 min of use with 1 M NaCl and various sources of water as the FS, the optimized MMWFO membrane provided a steady water flow and exhibited antifouling behavior. DW performed better than other water types whenever it was used owing to its greater flow (136 LMH) and volume reduction (52%). Tap water (TW), textile industrial wastewater (TIWW), gray water (GW), and municipal wastewater (MW) showed volume reductions of 41%, 34%, 33%, and 31.9%, respectively. Additionally, when utilizing NaCl as the DS and TIWW as the FS, 1 M NaCl resulted in more permeated water than 0.25 M and 0.5 M, yet a higher volume reduction of 41% was obtained.

Flexible Electrode Based on PES/GO Mixed Matrix Woven Membrane for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Application

We introduced, for the first time, a membrane composed of nanostructured self-polyether sulphone (PES) filled with graphene oxide (GO) applied to photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. This membrane was fabricated through the phase inversion method. A variety of characteristics analysis of GO and its composite with PES including FTIR, XRD, SEM, and optical properties was studied. Its morphology was completely modified from macro voids for bare PES into uniform layers with a random distribution of GO structure which facilitated the movement of electrons between these layers for hydrogen production. The composite membrane photocathode brought a distinct photocurrent generation (5.7 mA/cm² at 1.6 V vs. RHE). The optimized GO ratio in the membrane was investigated to be PG2 (0.008 wt.% GO). The conversion efficiencies of PEC were assessed for this membrane. Its incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) was calculated to be 14.4% at λ = 390 nm beside the applied bias photon-to-current conversion efficiency (ABPE) that was estimated to be 7.1% at -0.4 V vs. RHE. The stability of the PG2 membrane after six cycles was attributed to high thermal and mechanical stability and excellent ionic conductivity. The number of hydrogen moles was calculated quantitively to be 0.7 mmol h^-1 cm^-2. Finally, we designed an effective cost membrane with high performance for hydrogen generation.

Spatial mapping of the DNA adducts in cancer

DNA adducts and strand breaks are induced by various exogenous and endogenous agents. Accumulation of DNA damage is implicated in many disease processes, including cancer, aging, and neurodegeneration. The continuous acquisition of DNA damage from exogenous and endogenous stressors coupled with defects in DNA repair pathways contribute to the accumulation of DNA damage within the genome and genomic instability. While mutational burden offers some insight into the level of DNA damage a cell may have experienced and subsequently repaired, it does not quantify DNA adducts and strand breaks. Mutational burden also infers the identity of the DNA damage. With advances in DNA adduct detection and quantification methods, there is an opportunity to identify DNA adducts driving mutagenesis and correlate with a known exposome. However, most DNA adduct detection methods require isolation or separation of the DNA and its adducts from the context of the nuclei. Mass spectrometry, comet assays, and other techniques precisely quantify lesion types but lose the nuclear context and even tissue context of the DNA damage. The growth in spatial analysis technologies offers a novel opportunity to leverage DNA damage detection with nuclear and tissue context. However, we lack a wealth of techniques capable of detecting DNA damage in situ. Here, we review the limited existing in situ DNA damage detection methods and examine their potential to offer spatial analysis of DNA adducts in tumors or other tissues. We also offer a perspective on the need for spatial analysis of DNA damage in situ and highlight Repair Assisted Damage Detection (RADD) as an in situ DNA adduct technique with the potential to integrate with spatial analysis and the challenges to be addressed.

Genome sequencing of Enterococcus faecium NT04, an oral microbiota revealed the production of enterocin A/B active against oral pathogens

Objective

This study aimed to isolate and investigate a bacterium from an Egyptian adult's healthy oral cavity, focusing on its probiotic properties, especially its antagonistic activity against oral pathogens.

Methods

The isolated bacterium NT04 using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, was identified as Enterococcus faecium. In this study, the whole genome of Enterococcus faecium NT04 was sequenced and annotated by bioinformatics analysis tools.

Results

Numerous genes encoding the production of diverse metabolic and probiotic properties, such as bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (Enterocin A and B), cofactors, antioxidants, and vitamins, were confirmed by genomic analysis. There were no pathogenicity islands or plasmid insertions found. This strain is virulent for host colonization rather than invasion.

Conclusion

Genomic characteristics of strain NT04 support its potentiality as an anti-oral pathogen probiotic candidate.

Older driver at-fault crashes at unsignalized intersections in Alabama: Injury severity analysis with supporting evidence from a deep learning based approach

INTRODUCTION

The research described in this paper explored the factors contributing to the injury severity resulting from the male and female older driver (65 years and older) at-fault crashes at unsignalized intersections in Alabama.

METHOD

Random parameter logit models of injury severity were estimated. The estimated models identified a variety of statistically significant factors influencing the injury severities resulting from older driver at-fault crashes.

RESULTS

According to these models, some variables were found to be significant only in one model (male or female) but not in the other one. For example, variables such as driver under the influence of alcohol/drugs, horizontal curve, and stop sign were found significant only in the male model. On the other hand, variables such as intersection approaches on tangents with flat grade, and driver older than 75 years were found significant only in the female model. In addition, variables such as making turning maneuver, freeway-ramp junction, high speed approach, and so forth were found significant in both models. Estimation findings showed that two parameters in the male model and another two parameters in the female model could be modeled as random parameters, indicating their varying influences on the injury severity due to unobserved effects. In addition to the random parameter logit approach, a deep learning approach based on Artificial Neural Networks was introduced to predict the outcome of the crashes based on 164 variables that are listed in the crash database. The artificial intelligence (AI)-based method achieved an accuracy of 76% indicating the role of the variables in deciding the final outcome.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Future plans are set to study the use of AI on large sized datasets to achieve a relatively high-performance, and hence to be able to identify which variables contribute the most to the final outcome.

Novel Synthesis of CuO/GO Nanocomposites and Their Photocatalytic Potential in the Degradation of Hazardous Industrial Effluents

Photocatalytic degradation of dyes has been the subject of extensive study due to its low cost, eco-friendly operation, and absence of secondary pollutants. Copper oxide/graphene oxide (CuO/GO) nanocomposites are emerging as a new class of fascinating materials due to their low cost, nontoxicity, and distinctive properties such as a narrow band gap and good sunlight absorbency. In this study, copper oxide (CuO), graphene oxide (GO), and CuO/GO were synthesized successfully. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirm the oxidation and production of GO from the graphene of lead pencil. According to the morphological analysis of nanocomposites, CuO nanoparticles of sizes ≤20 nm on the GO sheets were evenly adorned and distributed. Nanocomposites of different CuO:GO ratios (1:1 up to 5:1) were applied for the photocatalytic degradation of methyl red (MR). CuO:GO(1:1) nanocomposites achieved 84% MR dye removal, while CuO:GO(5:1) nanocomposites achieved the highest value (95.48%). The thermodynamic parameters of the reaction for CuO:GO(5:1) were evaluated using the Van't Hoff equation and the activation energy was found to be 44.186 kJ/mol. The reusability test of the nanocomposites showed high stability even after seven cycles. CuO/GO catalysts can be used in the photodegradation of organic pollutants in wastewater at room temperature due to their excellent properties, simple synthesis process, and low cost.

Comprehensive evaluation of zeolite/marine alga nanocomposite in the removal of waste dye from industrial wastewater

A systematic study integrating laboratory, analytical, and case study field trial was conducted to figure out the effective adsorbent that could be used for the removal of Congo red (CR) dye from industrial wastewater effluent. The ability of the zeolite (Z) to adsorb CR dye from aqueous solutions was evaluated after it was modified by the Cystoseira compressa algae (CC) (Egyptian marine algae). Zeolite, CC algae were combined together in order to form the new composite zeolite/algae composite (ZCC) using wet impregnation technique and then characterized by the aid of different techniques. A noticeable enhancement in the adsorption capacity of newly synthesized ZCC was observed if compared to Z and CC, particularly at low CR concentrations. The batch style experiment was selected to figure out the impact of various experimental conditions on the adsorption behavior of different adsorbents. Moreover, isotherms and kinetics were estimated. According to the experimental results, the newly synthesized ZCC composite might be applied optimistically as an adsorbent for eliminating anionic dye molecules from industrial wastewater at low dye concentration. The dye adsorption on Z and ZCC followed the Langmuir isotherm, while that of CC followed the Freundlich isotherm. The dye adsorption kinetics on ZCC, CC, and Z were agreed with Elovich, intra-particle, and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, correspondingly. Adsorption mechanisms were also assessed using Weber's intraparticle diffusion model. Finally, field tests showed that the newly synthesized sorbent has a 98.5% efficient in eliminating dyes from industrial wastewater, authorizing the foundation for a recent eco-friendly adsorbent that facilitate industrial wastewater reuse.

Methanol electro oxidation on Ni-Pt-CrO/CNFs composite: morphology, structural, and electrochemical characterization

In this work, prepared nanoparticle samples of Ni_1-xCr_x with a fixed ratio of platinum (3%) were synthesized and loaded onto carbon nanofibers, which were produced by an electrospinning technique and carbonized at 900 °C for 7 h in an argon atmosphere. A variety of analysis techniques were applied to examine the stoichiometry, structure, surface morphology, and electrochemical activity. The carbonization process produces carbon nanofibers decorated with metal nanoparticles. Typical fibre diameters are 250-520 nm. The fibre morphologies of the treated samples don't exhibit any overt alterations. A study of the samples' methanol electrocatalytic capabilities was conducted. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance measurements were used to investigate catalytic performance and electrode stability as a function of electrolyte concentration, scan rate, and reaction time. The electrooxidation reaction's activation energy is increased, and the electrode's stability is increased, when Cr is added to Ni. In sample C3, the maximum current density (JPE) was 170.3 mA/cm² at 0.8 V with an onset potential of 0.352 V. Utilizing our electrocatalysts, the electrooxidation of methanol involves a mix of kinetic and diffusion control limiting reactions. This study has shown how to fabricate a powerful Ni-Pt-Cr-based methanol electrooxidation catalyst using a novel approach.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange and Methylene Blue Dyes by Engineering the Surface Nano-Textures of TiO2 Thin Films Deposited at Different Temperatures via MOCVD

TiO₂ thin films were deposited on quartz substrates by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) at temperatures of 250, 350, and 450 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data revealed the production of a pure anatase phase, a decrease in crystallite size, and a textural change as deposition temperature increased. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to study the morphological properties and confirm XRD results. UV-Vis.-NIR spectroscopy was used to investigate the optical properties of the samples. The effect of deposition temperature on wettability was investigated using contact angle measurements. Sunlight photocatalytic properties increased with the increase in deposition temperature for methyl orange and methylene blue. Films were post-annealed at 500 °C for 2 h. The effect of annealing on all the above-mentioned properties was explored. The kinetic analysis demonstrated superb agreement with the kinetic pseudo-first-order model. The rate of photocatalytic degradation of MB was ~8, 13, and 12 times that of MO using 250, 350, and 450 °C deposited films, respectively. Photodegradation was found to depend on the specific surface area, type of pollutant, and annealing temperature.

Nanocomposite Electrode of Titanium Dioxide Nanoribbons and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Energy Storage

TiO₂ is one of the most investigated materials due to its abundance, lack of toxicity, high faradaic capacitance, and high chemical and physical stability; however, its potential use in energy storage devices is constrained by its high internal resistance and weak van der Waals interaction between the particles. Carbon nanotubes are especially well suited for solving these issues due to their strong mechanical strength, superior electrical conductivity, high electron mobilities, excellent chemical and thermal stability, and enormous specific nanoporous surface. The hydrothermal approach was followed by chemical vapor deposition to produce a network composite of titanium dioxide nanoribbons (TNRs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The nanocomposite was characterized using a variety of methods. One phase of TiO₂-B nanoribbons has porous pits on its surface, and MWCNTs are grown in these pits to produce a network-like structure in the nanocomposite. With a two-electrode supercapacitor configuration, the TNR/CNT gave a gravimetric capacitance of 33.33 F g^-1, which was enhanced to 68.18 F g^-1 in a redox-active electrolyte containing hydroquinone (HQ). Additionally, the areal capacitance per footprint was increased from 80 mF cm^-2 in H₂SO₄ to 163.63 mF cm^-2 in H₂SO₄/HQ. The TNR/CNT supercapacitor has superior cyclic stability than the previously reported TiO₂-based electrodes, with 97.5% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. Based on these results, it looks like the TNR/CNT supercapacitor could provide portable electronic power supplies with new ways to work in the future.

Superior removal of methylene blue using green fabricated pomegranate peel/nano-hematite composite: reusability, isotherm and kinetics study

Green hematite nanoparticles were synthesized using pomegranate peel extract of different concentrations (2 g, 4 g, and 6 g) and in the presence of the peel residuals. The obtained products defined as PP/GNH (I), PP/GNH (II), and PP/GNH (III) referring to the hematite nanoparticles at different concentrations compositing with pomegranate peel residuals. The products were addressed as green adsorbents for methylene blue dye contaminants in water. They exhibit superior adsorption properties with theoretical q_max of 666, 1111, and 909 mg/g for PP/GNH (I), PP/GNH (II), and PP/GNH (III), respectively. The equilibration times were attained after 480 min for the three products. The isotherm and kinetic studies indicate that the adsorption systems for the synthetic materials are of chemisorption type. The adsorption behaviors of these systems can be demonstrated according to Pseudo-second order as well as Elovich kinetic model. Furthermore, the adsorption results reflected a mono-layer uptake form which was more suitable for the Langmuir model than other investigated models. The products also showed high performances when it comes to remove the dyes investigated such as methylene blue Congo red, safranin, methyl orange, and crystal violet. Finally, green fabricated nano hematite/pomegranate peel composites are of high stability and can be reused for five cycles.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Flower-Shaped CoS-Co2O3/G-C3N4 Nanocomposite for Two-Symmetric-Electrodes Supercapacitor of High Capacitance Efficiency Examined in Basic and Acidic Mediums

Graphitic carbon nitride (G-C3N4) was synthesized through the direct combustion of urea in the air. The CoS-Co₂O₃/G-C3N4 composite was synthesized via the hydrothermal method of G-C3N4 using cobalt salts. The morphological and chemical structures were determined through XRD, XPS, SEM, and TEM. XRD and XPS analyses confirmed the chemical structure, function groups, and elements percentage of the prepared nanocomposite. SEM measurements illustrated the formation of G-C3N4 sheets, as well as the flower shape of the CoS-Co₂O₃/G-C3N4 composite, evidenced through the formation of nano appendages over G-C3N4 sheets. TEM confirmed the 2D nanosheets of G-C3N4 with an average width and length of 80 nm and 170 nm, respectively. Two symmetric electrodes for the supercapacitor from the CoS-Co₂O₃/G-C3N4 composite. Electrochemical measurements were carried out to determine the charge/discharge, cyclic voltammetry, stability, and impedance of the prepared supercapacitor. The measurements were carried out under acid (0.5 M HCL) and basic (6.0 M NaOH) mediums. The charge and discharge lifetime values in the acid and base medium were 85 and 456 s, respectively. The cyclic voltammetry behavior was rectangular in a base medium for the pseudocapacitance feature. The supercapacitor had 100% stability retention up to 600 cycles; then, the stability decreased to 98.5% after 1000 cycles. The supercapacitor displayed a specific capacitance (C_S) of 361 and 92 F/g, and an energy density equal to 28.7 and 30.2 W h kg^-1 in the basic and acidic mediums, respectively. Our findings demonstrate the capabilities of supercapacitors to become an alternative solution to batteries, owing to their easy and low-cost manufacturing technique.

The Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage Comorbidity and the Efficacy of Enoxaparin in Decreasing the Mortality Rate in Them: Single Egyptian Center Report

Patients with neurological comorbidities are more likely to develop severe COVID-19. We aimed to detect the outcomes of COVID-19 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage comorbidity and the role of enoxaparin in decreasing the mortality rate in these cases, even though enoxaparin is a potential cause of intracerebral hemorrhage. The patients were checked on to detect surveillance outcomes, the relationship between mortality and patient characteristics, and the relationship between enoxaparin and study outcomes. Chest condition and GCS improved in 67.9% of participants. Hematoma course increased in 49.1%. Midline-shift, brain-edema, and COVID symptoms improved in 67.9%. There was a non-significant difference in mortality regarding age and gender. There was a significant difference in mortality regarding treatment with enoxaparin; 75% of the patients who did not receive enoxaparin died. 92.6% of the patients who showed decreases in hematoma course were administered enoxaparin. 76.9% of the patients who showed increases in hematoma-course were administered enoxaparin. Most of the patients who were admitted to the neurosurgical unit with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage acquired the COVID-19 infection. Most of the cases included in this study did not progress to severe cases. The dying patients showed deterioration in both neurological and COVID-19 symptoms. The anticoagulant properties of enoxaparin given earlier before and throughout the infection can considerably reduce mortality in COVID-19 individuals with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. It is recommended to use enoxaparin for cases with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage and COVID-19 regardless of hematoma size because the rate of improvement was greater than the mortality rate after using enoxaparin in this study.

In-Situ SERS Detection of Hg2+/Cd2+ and Congo Red Adsorption Using Spiral CNTs/Brass Nails

Brass spiral nails were functionalized with CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles and utilized as a substrate for the growth of extremely long CNTs with helical structures and diameters smaller than 20 nm. Different methods were used to characterize the grown CNTs' structures and morphologies. The characteristic Raman peaks of CNTs were amplified four times after being uploaded on the spiral nail, making the substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) more sensitive. To detect Hg²⁺ and Cd²⁺ at concentrations ranging from 1 to 1000 ppb, a CNT/spiral brass nail was used as a SERS substrate. The proposed sensor demonstrated high sensitivity and selectivity between these heavy metal ions. As a result, the proposed CNTs/spiral brass sensor can be an effective tool for identifying heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions. In addition, Congo red (CR) adsorption as a function of initial dye concentration and contact time was investigated. For CR dye solutions with concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 mg/L, respectively, the highest removal percentage was determined to be ~99.9%, 85%, and 77%. According to the kinetics investigation, the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models effectively handle CR adsorption onto CNTs/spiral nails. The increase in the dye concentration from 5 ppm to 20 ppm causes the rate constant to drop from 0.053 to 0.040 min^-1. Therefore, our sample can be employed for both the effective degradation of CR dye from wastewater and the detection of heavy metals.

Nanostructured MoS2 and WS2 Photoresponses under Gas Stimuli

This study was on the optoelectronic properties of multilayered two-dimensional MoS₂ and WS₂ materials on a silicon substrate using sputtering physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques. For the first time, we report ultraviolet (UV) photoresponses under air, CO₂, and O₂ environments at different flow rates. The electrical Hall effect measurement showed the existence of MoS₂ (n-type)/Si (p-type) and WS₂ (P-type)/Si (p-type) heterojunctions with a higher sheet carrier concentration of 5.50 × 10⁵ cm^-2 for WS₂ thin film. The IV electrical results revealed that WS₂ is more reactive than MoS₂ film under different gas stimuli. WS₂ film showed high stability under different bias voltages, even at zero bias voltage, due to the noticeably good carrier mobility of 29.8 × 10² cm²/V. WS₂ film indicated a fast rise/decay time of 0.23/0.21 s under air while a faster response of 0.190/0.10 s under a CO₂ environment was observed. Additionally, the external quantum efficiency of WS₂ revealed a remarkable enhancement in the CO₂ environment of 1.62 × 10⁸ compared to MoS₂ film with 6.74 × 10⁶. According to our findings, the presence of CO₂ on the surface of WS₂ improves such optoelectronic properties as photocurrent gain, photoresponsivity, external quantum efficiency, and detectivity. These results indicate potential applications of WS₂ as a photodetector under gas stimuli for future optoelectronic applications.

The Influence of Electrode Thickness on the Structure and Water Splitting Performance of Iridium Oxide Nanostructured Films

For a safe environment, humanity should be oriented towards renewable energy technology. Water splitting (WS), utilizing a photoelectrode with suitable thickness, morphology, and conductivity, is essential for efficient hydrogen production. In this report, iridium oxide (IrO_x) films of high conductivity were spin-cast on glass substrates. FE-SEM showed that the films are of nanorod morphology and different thicknesses. UV-Vis spectra indicated that the absorption and reflectance of the films depend on their thickness. The optical band gap (E_g) was increased from 2.925 eV to 3.07 eV by varying the spin speed (SS) of the substrates in a range of 1.5 × 10³-4.5 × 10³ rpm. It was clear from the micro-Raman spectra that the films were amorphous. The E_g vibrational mode of Ir-O stretching was red-shifted from 563 cm^-1 (for the rutile IrO₂ single crystal) to 553 cm^-1. The IrO_x films were used to develop photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen production catalysts in 0.5M of sodium sulfite heptahydrate Na₂SO₃·7H₂O (2-electrode system), which exhibits higher hydrogen evaluation (HE) reaction activity, which is proportional to the thickness and absorbance of the used IrO_x photocathode, as it showed an incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE%) of 7.069% at 390 nm and -1 V. Photocurrent density (Jph = 2.38 mA/cm² at -1 V vs. platinum) and PEC hydrogen generation rate (83.68 mmol/ h cm² at 1 V) are the best characteristics of the best electrode (the thickest and most absorbent IrO_x photocathode). At -1 V and 500 nm, the absorbed photon-to-current conversion efficiency (APCE%) was 7.84%. Electrode stability, thermodynamic factors, solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency (STH), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies (EISs) were also studied.

The Impact of Co Doping and Annealing Temperature on the Electrochemical Performance and Structural Characteristics of SnO2 Nanoparticulate Photoanodes

Obtaining H₂ energy from H₂O using the most abundant solar radiation is an outstanding approach to zero pollution. This work focuses on studying the effect of Co doping and calcination on the structure, morphology, and optical properties of spin-coated SnO₂ films as well as their photoelectrochemical (PEC) efficiency. The structures and morphologies of the films were investigated by XRD, AFM, and Raman spectra. The results confirmed the preparation of SnO₂ of the rutile phase, with crystallite sizes in the range of 18.4-29.2 nm. AFM showed the granular structure and smooth surfaces having limited roughness. UV-Vis spectroscopy showed that the absorption spectra depend on the calcination temperature and the Co content, and the films have optical bandgap (E_g) in the range of 3.67-3.93 eV. The prepared samples were applied for the PEC hydrogen generation after optimizing the sample doping ratio, using electrolyte (HCl, Na₂SO₄, NaOH), electrode reusability, applied temperature, and monochromatic illumination. Additionally, the electrode stability, thermodynamic parameters, conversion efficiency, number of hydrogen moles, and PEC impedance were evaluated and discussed, while the SnO₂ films were used as working electrodes and platinum sheet as an auxiliary or counter electrode (2-electrode system) and both were dipped in the electrolyte. The highest photocurrent (21.25 mA/cm²), number of hydrogen moles (20.4 mmol/h.cm²), incident photon-to-current change efficiency (6.892%@307 nm and +1 V), and the absorbed photon-to-current conversion efficiency (4.61% at ~500 nm and +1 V) were recorded for the 2.5% Co-doped SnO₂ photoanode that annealed at 673 K.

High-Performance pH Sensor Electrodes Based on a Hexagonal Pt Nanoparticle Array-Coated Nanoporous Alumina Membrane

Porous anodic alumina membranes coated with Pt nanoparticles (PAAM/Pt) have been employed as pH sensor electrodes for H⁺ ion detection. The PAAM was designed using a two-step anodization process. Pt nanoparticles were then sputtered onto the membrane at different deposition times. The membrane's morphological, chemical, and optical characteristics were carefully assessed following the fabrication stage using a variety of analytical techniques. The potential of the PAAM/Pt sensor electrode was investigated by measuring the potential using a simple potentiometric method. The effects of depositing Pt nanoparticles for 3-7 min on sensor electrode sensitivity were examined. The optimal potentiometric Nernstian response slope for the PAAM/Pt sensor electrode with 5 min Pt sputter coating is 56.31 mV/decade in the pH range of 3.0 to 10 at 293 K. Additionally, the PAAM/Pt sensor electrode's stability and selectivity in various ions solutions were examined. The sensor electrode had a lifetime of more than six weeks and was kept in a normal air environment.

Design and Characterization of Zeolite/Serpentine Nanocomposite Photocatalyst for Solar Hydrogen Generation

In this work, a low-cost, high-yield hydrothermal treatment was used to produce nanozeolite (Zeo), nanoserpentine (Serp), and Zeo/Serp nanocomposites with weight ratios of 1:1 and 2:1. At 250 °C for six hours, the hydrothermal treatment was conducted. Various methods are used to explore the morphologies, structures, compositions, and optical characteristics of the generated nanostructures. The morphological study revealed structures made of nanofibers, nanorods, and hybrid nanofibril/nanorods. The structural study showed clinoptilolite monoclinic zeolite and antigorite monoclinic serpentine with traces of talcum mineral and carbonates. As a novel photoelectrochemical catalyst, the performance of the Zeo/Serp (2:1) composite was evaluated for solar hydrogen generation from water splitting relative to its constituents. At -1 V, the Zeo/Serp (2:1) composite produced a maximum current density of 8.44 mA/g versus 7.01, 6.74, and 6.6 mA/g for hydrothermally treated Zeo/Serp (1:1), Zeo, and Serp, respectively. The Zeo/Serp (2:1) photocatalysts had a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency (STH) of 6.5% and an estimated hydrogen output rate of 14.43 mmole/h.g. Consequently, the current research paved the way for low-cost photoelectrochemical catalytic material for efficient solar hydrogen production by water splitting.

In vitro antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-Alzheimer potentials of innovative macroalgae bio-capped silver nanoparticles

The antagonistic side effects of chemical medications led to the search for safe strategies such as biogenic agents. Correspondingly, this study aims to create biogenic, appropriate, auspicious and innovative therapeutic agents like Galaxaura elongata {GE}, Turbinaria ornata {TO} and Enteromorpha flexuosa {EF} macroalgae-based silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs). The Ag+ reduction and the creation of Ag[GE]-NPs, Ag[TO]-NPs and Ag[EF]-NPs have been validated using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and zeta potential analysis, and the chemical composition of macroalgae crude extracts was estimated through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Further, macroalgae-based Ag-NPs were tested for their free radical scavenging activity DPPH, ABTS, anticancer activity in human liver carcinoma (HepG2) cell line, distinctive inflammation forms and elevated α-amylase. Results showed that the biosynthesized Ag-NPs have unique mechanical and physicochemical characters attributed to their high relative surface area, nanosized dimensions and spherical shape. At dose of 200 µg/mL, the DPPH radical scavenging capacity was maximized with Ag[TO]-NPs (67.26%); however, Ag[EF]-NPs was the most potent as ABTs scavenger (97.74%). Additionally, Ag[GE]-NPs had the maximum proteinase inhibitory action with 59.78%. The 1000 µg/mL of Ag[GE]-NPs, Ag[TO]-NPs and Ag[EF]-NPs revealed significant inhibitions of cell growth of HepG2 resulting in cell viabilities 5.92%, 4.44% and 11.33%, respectively. These findings suggest that macroalgae bio-capped Ag-NPs have magnificent biological potentials for safe biomedical applications.

Green Synthesis of CS-TiO2 NPs for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye

The development of a non-malignant and sustainable treatment approach for eradicating mephitic organic dyes from freshwater resources is a daunting task. In a similar vein, the current work investigates the mitigation of methylene blue (MB) dye utilizing titanium dioxide nanoparticles (CS-TiO₂ NPs) synthesized using cannabis sativa (bhang) leaf extract via a greener approach. The CS-TiO₂ NPs are well characterized through XRD, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and EDS spectroscopy. Microscopic studies confirm that the average particle size distribution of the individual particles was found to be in the range of 12.5 ± 1.5 nm, whereas the average size of the CS-TiO₂ NPs aggregates is 24.5 ± 11.5 nm. Additionally, the synthesized CS-TiO₂ NPs manifested remarkable photocatalytic degradation potential against methylene blue dye with a degradation efficiency of 98.2% and an apparent rate constant of 0.0398 min⁻¹. As a result, this research offers a green/sustainable alternative for water purification.

Removal of Scale-Forming Ions and Oil Traces from Oil Field Produced Water Using Graphene Oxide/Polyethersulfone and TiO2 Nanoribbons/Polyethersulfone Nanofiltration Membranes

Treatment of produced water in oil fields has become a tough challenge for oil producers. Nanofiltration, a promising method for water treatment, has been proposed as a solution. The phase inversion technique was used for the synthesis of nanofiltration membranes of polyethersulfone embedded with graphene oxide nanoparticles and polyethersulfone embedded with titanium nanoribbons. As a realistic situation, water samples taken from the oil field were filtered using synthetic membranes at an operating pressure of 0.3 MPa. Physiochemical properties such as water flux, membrane morphology, flux recovery ratio, pore size and hydrophilicity were investigated. Additionally, filtration efficiency for removal of constituent ions, oil traces in water removal, and fouling tendency were evaluated. The constituent ions of produced water act as the scaling agent which threatens the blocking of the reservoir bores of the disposal wells. Adding graphene oxide (GO) and titanium nanoribbons (TNR) to polyethersulfone (PES) enhanced filtration efficiency, water flux, and anti-fouling properties while also boosting hydrophilicity and porosity. The PES-0.7GO membrane has the best filtering performance, followed by the PES-0.7TNR and pure-PES membranes, with chloride salt rejection rates of 81%, 78%, and 35%; oil rejection rates of 88%, 85%, and 71%; and water fluxes of 85, 82, and 42.5 kg/m² h, respectively. Because of its higher hydrophilicity and physicochemical qualities, the PES-0.7GO membrane outperformed the PES-0.7TNR membrane. Nanofiltration membranes embedded with nanomaterial described in this work revealed encouraging long-term performance for oil-in-water trace separation and scaling agent removal.

Green aspects of photocatalysts during corona pandemic: a promising role for the deactivation of COVID-19 virus

The selection of a facile, eco-friendly, and effective methodology is the need of the hour for efficient curing of the COVID-19 virus in air, water, and many food products. Recently, semiconductor-based photocatalytic methodologies have provided promising, green, and sustainable approaches to battle against viral activation via the oxidative capabilities of various photocatalysts with excellent performance under moderate conditions and negligible by-products generation as well. Considering this, recent advances in photocatalysis for combating the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are inclusively highlighted. Starting from the origin to the introduction of the coronavirus, the significant potential of photocatalysis against viral prevention and -disinfection is discussed thoroughly. Various photocatalytic material-based systems including metal-oxides, metal-free and advanced 2D materials (MXenes, MOFs and COFs) are systematically examined to understand the mechanistic insights of virus-disinfection in the human body to fight against COVID-19 disease. Also, a roadmap toward sustainable solutions for ongoing COVID-19 contagion is also presented. Finally, the challenges in this field and future perspectives are comprehensively discussed involving the bottlenecks of current photocatalytic systems along with potential recommendations to deal with upcoming pandemic situations in the future.

Tuning the Metal-Insulator Transition Properties of VO2 Thin Films with the Synergetic Combination of Oxygen Vacancies, Strain Engineering, and Tungsten Doping

Vanadium oxide (VO₂) is considered a Peierls–Mott insulator with a metal–insulator transition (MIT) at T_c = 68° C. The tuning of MIT parameters is a crucial point to use VO₂ within thermoelectric, electrochromic, or thermochromic applications. In this study, the effect of oxygen deficiencies, strain engineering, and metal tungsten doping are combined to tune the MIT with a low phase transition of 20 °C in the air without capsulation. Narrow hysteresis phase transition devices based on multilayer VO₂, WO₃, Mo_0.2W_0.8O_3, and/or MoO₃ oxide thin films deposited through a high vacuum sputtering are investigated. The deposited films are structurally, chemically, electrically, and optically characterized. Different conductivity behaviour was observed, with the highest value towards VO_1.75/WO_2.94 and the lowest VO_1.75 on FTO glass. VO_1.75/WO_2.94 showed a narrow hysteresis curve with a single-phase transition. Thanks to the role of oxygen vacancies, the MIT temperature decreased to 35 °C, while the lowest value (T_c = 20 °C) was reached with Mo_0.2W_0.8O₃/VO₂/MoO₃ structure. In this former sample, Mo_0.2W_0.8O₃ was used for the first time as an anti-reflective and anti-oxidative layer. The results showed that the MoO₃ bottom layer is more suitable than WO₃ to enhance the electrical properties of VO₂ thin films. This work is applied to fast phase transition devices.

Novel Wastewater Treatment by Using Newly Prepared Green Seaweed-Zeolite Nanocomposite

A dependent step-by-step study that included experimental and field study was applied to explore the simplest and most effective system that could be applied for adsorption of Congo Red (CR) dye from the effluent of wastewater that comes out from different industries. Zeolite (Z) surface and pores were subjected to a modification process using green seaweed (GS) algae. Thereafter, each Z, GS, and composite from both were evaluated based on the adsorption efficacy to clean up CR dyes from aqueous solutions. A wet impregnation method was followed to fabricate the zeolite/algae (ZGS) nanocomposite which was characterized using the most appropriate characterization techniques. Batch experiments were selected to be the method of choice in order to follow up the performance of the adsorption process versus different practical variables. Moreover, dye adsorption kinetics and isotherms were investigated as well. At lowered concentrations of CR, the novel nanocomposite ZGS revealed more efficacy than its counterparts, Z and GS, in terms of the adsorption capacity. The maximum adsorption capacities were found to be 8.10, 10.30, and 19.70 mg/g for Z, GS, and ZGS, respectively. Laboratory tests confirmed that the novel nanocomposite ZGS could be introduced as a new and economical nanoadsorbent to capture and remove negatively charged dyes from wastewater effluents that come out from industries at lower concentrations of CR dye and analogous compounds. The dye adsorption on GS, Z, and ZGS coincide with the pseudo-first, Langmuir isotherm, and second-order models. Evaluation for the sorption mechanism was conducted using a diffusion model known as Weber's intraparticle. Depending on the last findings, field experiments on removing dyes from industrial wastewater revealed optimistic findings as the efficiency of our modern and eco-friendly nanoadsorbent reached 91.11%, which helps in the reuse of industrial wastewater.

A Review on Green Synthesis of TiO2 NPs: Synthesis and Applications in Photocatalysis and Antimicrobial

Nanotechnology is a fast-expanding area with a wide range of applications in science, engineering, health, pharmacy, and other fields. Nanoparticles (NPs) are frequently prepared via a variety of physical and chemical processes. Simpler, sustainable, and cost-effective green synthesis technologies have recently been developed. The synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) in a green/sustainable manner has gotten a lot of interest in the previous quarter. Bioactive components present in organisms such as plants and bacteria facilitate the bio-reduction and capping processes. The biogenic synthesis of TiO₂ NPs, as well as the different synthesis methods and mechanistic perspectives, are discussed in this review. A range of natural reducing agents including proteins, enzymes, phytochemicals, and others, are involved in the synthesis of TiO₂ NPs. The physics of antibacterial and photocatalysis applications were also thoroughly discussed. Finally, we provide an overview of current research and future concerns in biologically mediated TiO₂ nanostructures-based feasible platforms for industrial applications.

Resting-state electroencephalography based deep-learning for the detection of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most serious and challenging neurodegenerative disorders to diagnose. Clinical diagnosis on observing motor symptoms is the gold standard, yet by this point nerve cells are degenerated resulting in a lower efficacy of therapeutic treatments. In this study, we introduce a deep-learning approach based on a recently-proposed 20-Layer Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) applied on the visual realization of the Wavelet domain of a resting-state EEG. The proposed approach was able to efficiently and accurately detect PD as well as distinguish subjects with PD on medications from subjects who are off medication. The gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) was used to visualize the features based on which the approach provided the predictions. A significantly high accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, AUC, and Weighted Kappa Score up to 99.9% were achieved and the visualization of the regions in the Wavelet images that contributed to the deep-learning approach decisions was provided. The proposed framework can then serve as an effective computer-aided diagnostic tool that will support physicians and scientists in further understanding the nature of PD and providing an objective and confident opinion regarding the clinical diagnosis of the disease.

Design of SnO2:Ni,Ir Nanoparticulate Photoelectrodes for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Currently, hydrogen generation via photocatalytic water splitting using semiconductors is regarded as a simple environmental solution to energy challenges. This paper discusses the effects of the doping of noble metals, Ir (3.0 at.%) and Ni (1.5–4.5 at.%), on the structure, morphology, optical properties, and photoelectrochemical performance of sol-gel-produced SnO₂ thin films. The incorporation of Ir and Ni influences the position of the peaks and the lattice characteristics of the tetragonal polycrystalline SnO₂ films. The films have a homogeneous, compact, and crack-free nanoparticulate morphology. As the doping level is increased, the grain size shrinks, and the films have a high proclivity for forming Sn–OH bonds. The optical bandgap of the un-doped film is 3.5 eV, which fluctuates depending on the doping elements and their ratios to 2.7 eV for the 3.0% Ni-doped SnO₂:Ir Photoelectrochemical (PEC) electrode. This electrode produces the highest photocurrent density (J_ph = 46.38 mA/cm²) and PEC hydrogen production rate (52.22 mmol h⁻¹cm⁻² at −1V), with an Incident-Photon-to-Current Efficiency (IPCE% )of 17.43% at 307 nm. The applied bias photon-to-current efficiency (ABPE) of this electrode is 1.038% at −0.839 V, with an offset of 0.391% at 0 V and 307 nm. These are the highest reported values for SnO₂-based PEC catalysts. The electrolyte type influences the J_ph values of photoelectrodes in the order J_ph(HCl) > J_ph(NaOH) > J_ph(Na₂SO₄). After 12 runs of reusability at −1 V, the optimized photoelectrode shows high stability and retains about 94.95% of its initial PEC performance, with a corrosion rate of 5.46 nm/year. This research provides a novel doping technique for the development of a highly active SnO₂-based photoelectrocatalyst for solar light-driven hydrogen fuel generation.

Phyto-Capped Ag Nanoparticles: Green Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic and Antioxidant Activities

Using a simple approach, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesized from green coffee bean extract. The optical color change from yellowish to reddish-brown of the green-produced Ag NPs was initially observed, which was confirmed by the UV-Visible spectrophotometer’s surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) bands at 329 and 425 nm. The functional groups of green coffee-capped Ag NPs (GC-capped Ag NPs) were studied using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, revealing that Ag NPs had been capped by phytochemicals, resulting in excellent stability, and preventing nanoparticle aggregation. The presence of elemental silver is confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. In addition to the measurement of the zeta potential of the prepared GC-capped Ag NPs, the size distribution is evaluated by the dynamic light scattering. Depending on the nano-morphological study, the particle diameter of Ag NPs is 8.6 ± 3.5 nm, while the particle size of GC-capped Ag NPs is 29.9 ± 4.3 nm, implying the presence of well-dispersed nanospheres with an average capsulation layer of thickness 10.7 nm. The phyto-capped Ag NPs were found to be crystalline, having a face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice structure and Ag crystallite size of ~7.2 nm, according to the XRD crystallographic analysis. The catalytic performance of phyto-capped Ag NPs in the removal of methylene blue dye by sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) was investigated for 12 min to reach a degradation efficiency of approximately 96%. The scavenging activities of 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals are also examined in comparison to previously reported Ag-based nano-catalysts, demonstrating a remarkable IC₅₀ of 26.88 µg/mL, which is the first time it has been recorded.

Highly Efficient Photocatalyst Fabricated from the Chemical Recycling of Iron Waste and Natural Zeolite for Super Dye Degradation

In this paper, Fe2O3 and Fe2O3-zeolite nanopowders are prepared by chemical precipitation utilizing the rusted iron waste and natural zeolite. In addition to the nanomorphologies; the chemical composition, structural parameters, and optical properties are examined using many techniques. The Fe2O3-zeolite photocatalyst showed smaller sizes and higher light absorption in visible light than Fe2O3. Both Fe2O3 and Fe2O3-zeolite are used as photocatalysts for methylene blue (MB) photodegradation under solar light. The effects of the contact time, starting MB concentration, Fe2O3-zeolite dose, and pH value on photocatalytic performance are investigated. The full photocatalytic degradation of MB dye (10 mg/L) is achieved using 75 mg of Fe2O3-zeolite under visible light after 30 s, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the highest performance yet for Fe2O3-based photocatalysts. This photocatalyst has also shown remarkable stability and recyclability. The kinetics and mechanisms of the photocatalytic process are studied. Therefore, the current work can be applied industrially as a cost-effective method for eliminating the harmful MB dye from wastewater and recycling the rusted iron wires.

Preparation, characterization, and performance of PES/GO woven mixed matrix nanocomposite forward osmosis membrane for water desalination

Mixed matrix woven forward osmosis (MMWFO) membranes made of polyethersulfone (PES)/graphene oxide nanosheets (GO NSs) were made by inserting varying wt% ratios of GO NSs (zero to 0.1 wt%) into the PES matrix. A coated woven fabric material was used to cast the membrane polymer solution. The physical characteristics and chemical structures of the produced PES/GO MMWFO membranes were studied, including contact angle, hydrophilicity, porosity, tortuosity, function groups, chemical and crystallographic structures, nanomorphologies, and surface roughness. The performance of the prepared PES/GO FO membranes for water desalination was evaluated in terms of pure water flux (J_w), reverse salt flux (J_s), and salt rejection (SR). The hydrophilicity and porosity of the FO membrane improved with the addition of GO NSs, as did water permeability due to the development of multiple skin-layer structures with greater GO NS loading. These GO NSs establish shortcut pathways for water molecules to move through, reducing support layer tortuosity by three times, lowering support layer structural features, and minimizing internal concentration polarization (ICP). The PES/0.01 wt% GO MMWFO membrane with a total casting thickness of 215 μm and 1 M NaCl concentration had the best performance, with the highest J_w (114.7 LMH), lowest J_s (0.03 GMH), and lowest specific reverse solute flux (J_s/J_w = 0.00026 g L⁻¹), as well as a more favorable structural parameter (S = 149 μm). The performance of our optimized membrane is significantly better than that of the control woven commercial cellulose triacetate (CTA) FO membrane under optimal FO conditions. As the NaCl concentration increased from 0.6 to 2 M, J_w increased from 105 to 127 LMH which is much higher than the J_w of the commercial one (7.2 to 15 LMH). Our FO membranes have an SR of 99.2%@0.65 M NaCl, which is significantly greater than that of the CTA membrane.

Optimized FO membrane showed water flux 8.5 times that of commercial CTA membrane, salt rejection of 99.2%, and the lowest reported specific reverse solute flux (0.00026 g L⁻¹).