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Deep supervised hashing has turned up to unravel many large-scale image retrieval challenges. Although deep supervised hashing accomplishes good results for image retrieval process, requisite for further improving the retrieval accuracy always remains the primal focus of interest. In Deep hashing methods, feature representation happens at the outset of the fully connected (FC) layers, causing shortage of spatial information owing to its global nature, whereas deeper pooling layers preserve semantically similar information by retaining the images spatial information, which can result in uplifting the retrieval performance. Hereby, for enhancing the image retrieval accuracy through exploring spatial information, a novel way of deep supervised hashing based on Pooled Feature map (DSHPoolF) is proposed to generate compact hash codes that explore the spatial information by weighing the informative Feature maps from the last pooling layer. This is achieved, firstly, by weighing the last pooling layers Feature map in two ways, namely average–max-based pooling and probability-based pooling strategies. Secondly, informative Feature maps are selected with the help of the weights. In addition to this, the informative Feature maps play a key role in optimizing quantization error together with the loss function and classification errors in a single-step, point-wise ranking manner. This proposed DSHPoolF method is assessed using three datasets (CIFAR-10, MNIST and ImageNet) that unveils primitive outcome in comparison with other existing prominent hash-based methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plenty of data are available due to the growth of digital technology that creates a high expectation in retrieving the relevant images, accurately and efficiently for a given query image. For searching the relevant images efficiently for the Large Scale dataset, the searching algorithm should have fast access capability. The existing Exact Nearest Neighbor search performs in linear time and so it takes more time as both the dataset and data dimension increases. As a remedy to provide sub-linear/logarithmic time complexity, usage of Approximate Nearest Neighbor (ANN) algorithms is emerging at a rapid rate. This paper discusses about the importance of ANN and their general classification; the different categories involved in Learning to Hash has been analyzed with their pros and cons; different bit assignment types and methods to minimize the Quantization Errors have been reviewed along with its merits and demerits. Therefore, it serves to increase the efficiency of the Image Retrieval process in Large Scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smart grid (SG) is a cutting-edge electrical grid that utilizes digital communication technology and automation to effectively handle electricity consumption, distribution, and generation. It incorporates energy storage systems, smart meters, and renewable energy sources for bidirectional communication and enhanced energy flow between grid modules. Due to their cyberattack vulnerability, SGs need robust safety measures to protect sensitive data, ensure public safety, and maintain a reliable power supply. Robust safety measures, comprising intrusion detection systems (IDSs), are significant to protect against malicious manipulation, unauthorized access, and data breaches in grid operations, confirming the electricity supply chain's integrity, resilience, and reliability. Deep learning (DL) improves intrusion recognition in SGs by effectually analyzing network data, recognizing complex attack patterns, and adjusting to dynamic threats in real-time, thereby strengthening the reliability and resilience of the grid against cyber-attacks. This study develops a novel Mountain Gazelle Optimization with Deep Ensemble Learning based intrusion detection (MGODEL-ID) technique on SG environment. The MGODEL-ID methodology exploits ensemble learning with metaheuristic approaches to identify intrusions in the SG environment. Primarily, the MGODEL-ID approach utilizes Z-score normalization to convert the input data into a uniform format. Besides, the MGODEL-ID approach employs the MGO model for feature subset selection. Meanwhile, the detection of intrusions is performed by an ensemble of three classifiers such as long short-term memory (LSTM), deep autoencoder (DAE), and extreme learning machine (ELM). Eventually, the dung beetle optimizer (DBO) is utilized to tune the hyperparameter tuning of the classifiers. A widespread simulation outcome is made to demonstrate the improved security outcomes of the MGODEL-ID model. The experimental values implied that the MGODEL-ID model performs better than other models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An urgent problem is the bacterial infestations caused by home and industrial wastes that contaminate surface water. This article presents a sustainable and affordable method for synthesizing zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) utilizing Asparagus racemosus root extract. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and UV–visible spectrum analysis were used to characterize the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction peaks of ZnO NPs matched to a standard JCPDS card (no. 36–1451) and the particles were 21–29 nm in size and had a wurtzite structure with good crystallinity. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed absorption peaks between 359 and 364 nm in ZnO NPs synthesized from Asparagus racemosus root extract. ZnO NPs were confirmed by FTIR, which revealed absorption bands in the 469–525 cm−1 region, showing stretching of the Zn–O bond. In this study, methylene blue (MB) was degraded using ZnO nanoparticles as photocatalysts under the influence of UV light. Notably, the maximum MB decomposition efficiency of 98% was demonstrated by ZnO for 100 mg/mL with reaction rate constants of 0.0312, 0.02104, and 0.001362 min−1 for ASP1, ASP2, and ASP3, respectively. Additionally, the well diffusion technique was used to assess the zone of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of ZnO nanoparticles against clinical strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. ZnO-NPs were more effective against E. coli and S. aureus which exhibited inhibition zones of 13 ± 0.57 and 15 ± 1.15 mm, respectively. These results emphasize the important potential of ZnO nanoparticles produced from biological sources for effective water purification, emphasizing their photocatalytic and antibacterial capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance is presently one of the most critical global challenges to effectively treating bacterial infections. It has been shown to negatively impact both clinical and therapeutic outcomes, leading to treatment failures, the necessity for costly and safer alternative medications, increased morbidity and mortality rates, prolonged hospital stays, and substantial healthcare costs. The present anti-microbial therapy used against several infectious diseases, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), is not sufficient to combat the diseases. To overcome this antibiotic resistance, there is an urgency among researchers to identify or develop effective alternatives for anti-microbial therapy to delineate antibiotic resistance. The rising interest of the scientific community in the upcoming field of nanotechnology holds great potential. The current study aimed to evaluate the anti-microbial potential of Vaccinium macrocarpon–mediated iron-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs). The mid-stream urine specimens (n = 376) were collected with equal ratios from both male and female patients suspected of UTI and inoculated on suitable media. Out of a total 376, only 100 specimens showed growth of different bacteria, which were further proceeded for their antibiotic susceptibility. The frequency of Gram-negative bacteria was collectively higher (n = 78) than Gram positive bacteria (n = 22). Among these isolates, Escherichia coli was noted to be the most frequent uropathogens (33%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (22%), Staphylococcus aureus (14%), Pseudomonas aueroginosa, while Enterococcus faecalis, and Proteus mirabilis were 8% and 6%, respectively. The least isolated pathogen was Providencia stuartii, accounted for 4%. The Gram-negative isolates such as K. pneumonia, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and P. stuartii revealed the highest resistance to gentamicin (60.60%), (68.18%), (90.90%), and (60.0%), respectively. P. mirabilis showed 71.42% resistance to ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime. While S. aureus revealed 57.14% resistance to cefotaxime and gentamicin. Using co-precipitation techniques, the Fe-doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using several analytical techniques. The crystallinity and hexagonal conformation were studied using XRD technique. The FTIR spectroscopy defines the conjugation of different phytochemicals and bonding configurations, and through TEM the morphology of the nanoparticles was investigated which was hexagonal with a 30-nm average size. The synthesized NPs were then tested against a few MDR uropathogenic bacteria using disc diffusion method where the meropenem was used as a control. The NPs exhibit anti-microbial response with zones of inhibition ranging between 10 and 21 mm, indicating that these NPs were bestowed with potent anti-microbial activity. The anti-bacterial activity of meropenem was quite higher than that of NPs and extract alone, but in THE case of S. aureus, it was noted less (18 ± 0.4) than NPs at 40 μg/ml (18 ± 0.6). In the current study, the higher anti-bacterial efficiency was noted against P. stuartii (21 ± 0.5), followed by, K. pneumonia (21 ± 0.4) at 40 μg/ml. The zone of inhibition was directly proportional to the concentration of NPs. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was found to be lowest for P. stuartii at 39 ± 1.6 μg/ml, for E. coli 41 ± 1.5 μg/ml, K. pneumoniae 43 ± 2.8 μg/ml, P. mirabilis 44 ± 0.8 μg/ml, and S. aureus 49 ± 1.7 μg/ml. The highest MIC was observed for P. aeruginosa (53 ± 2.4 μg/ml), with E. faecalis showing inhibition at 52 μg/ml. Therefore, from the current study, it could be concluded that Vaccinium macrocarpon–based Fe-ZnO nanoparticles can be used as potential nano-antibiotic sources for the therapy of UTIs as having better anti-microbial potential than the empiric antibiotics that are currently used to treat the UTIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are widely used nanoparticles due to their remarkable antibacterial properties. In this study, we present a novel approach for synthesizing ZnONPs using chemical precipitation techniques and incorporating polyethylene glycol-300 (PEG-300) as an intermediate compound, facilitating the nystatin (NYS) and ZnONP linkage through the formation of a stable ZnONPs-PEG framework conjugate. The synthesized ZnONPs and their conjugates were fully analyzed using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The ZnONPs-PEG-NYS revealed an abnormal structure resembling a spherical shape with a particle size of 67.38 nm. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the well-diffusion method against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) resistant pathogenic bacteria. Our findings indicate that ZnONPs-PEG exhibited significantly improved antibacterial efficacy compared to ZnONPs alone. The nanocomposite ZnONPs-PEG-NYS exhibits superior antimicrobial effects, with inhibition zone diameters of 28.32 mm, 23.63 mm, 20.47 mm, and 17.73 mm against S. aureus, S. mutans, E. coli, and K. pneumoniae, respectively. This study highlights the promising antibacterial activity of nystatin against the tested pathogens and introduces a potential cost-effective and eco-friendly treatment option for infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) through the use of plant extracts is a remarkably simple, cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly approach. In recent years, there has been a surge in the exploration of eco-friendly methods for synthesizing ZnO NPs, with researchers addressing the potential of extracts derived from various plant components, including leaves, stems, roots, and fruits. This comprehensive review aims to encapsulate and delve into the extensive research surrounding the green synthesis of ZnO NPs, emphasizing their diverse antimicrobial applications while encompassing the latest advancements documented in the literature. Furthermore, this review meticulously examines the sizes and morphological characteristics of the synthesized nanoparticles, offering valuable insights into their structural properties. Finally, a thorough exploration of the potential interaction mechanisms between ZnO NPs and bacterial cell walls was conducted, elucidating how such interactions may induce cell death and highlighting the consequential antimicrobial activity exhibited by these nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel photopolymerizable (meth)acrylate oligomer syrup modified with ferulic acid (FA) was verified as an antimicrobial coating binder against a biofilm of Staphylococcus epidermidis. A solution-free UV-LED-initiated photopolymerization process of aliphatic (meth)acrylates and styrene was performed to prepare the oligomer syrup. The influence of ferulic acid on the UV crosslinking process of the varnish coatings (kinetic studies using photo-DSC) as well as their chemical structure (FTIR) and mechanical (adhesion, hardness), optical (gloss, DOI parameter), and antibacterial properties against S. epidermidis were investigated. The photo-DSC results revealed that FA has a positive effect on reducing the early occurrence of slowing processes and has a favorable effect on the monomer conversion increment. It turned out, unexpectedly, that the more FA in the coating, the greater its adhesion to a glass substrate and hardness. The coating containing 0.9 wt. part of FA exhibited excellent antimicrobial properties against S. epidermidis, i.e., the bacterial number after 24 h was only 1.98 log CFU/mL. All the coatings showed relatively high hardness, gloss (>80 G.U.), and DOI parameter values (30–50 a.u.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology is the most innovative field of the twenty-first century. Worldwide, intensive research is being done to commercialize nano products. Due to their unique or improved physical and chemical properties relative to bulk material, nanomaterials, especially nanoparticles have seen an enormous interest over the past few decades. As environmentally benign alternative nanoparticles are currently being produced "biologically" by means of plant or microorganism-mediated synthesis. Due to its outstanding biocompatibility, affordability, and low toxicity, and cost-effectiveness, ZnO NPs have emerged as one of the most widely used metal oxide nanoparticles in various applications. Interestingly, due to its multiple medical, health, environmental, and economic advantages, the green technique of synthesis employing plant materials has been discovered to be suitable for the production of ZnO nanoparticles. A variety of characterization methods have been used to assess the characteristics of ZnO NPs produced with green strategies, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV–Vis spectroscopy and others. The value of these techniques reveals important information about the structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of ZnO NPs. In order to support future biomedical and other research, this review provides an overview of recent developments in the green synthesis of ZnO NPs with a focus on natural sources such as plants, bacteria, fungi, and algae as well as their characterizations, and various applications, including, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, photocatalytic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetics, and anti-aging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops machine learning models to estimate key serological test results using non-invasive cellular bioelectrical impedance measurements, a routine procedure for ESKD patients. Methods: The study employs two machine learning models, Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF), to determine key serological tests by classifying cell bioelectrical indicators. Data from 688 patients, comprising 3,872 biochemical–bioelectrical records, were used for model validation. Results: Both SVM and RF models effectively categorized key serological results (albumin, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone) into low, normal, and high. RF generally outperformed SVM, except in classifying calcium levels in women. Conclusion: The machine learning models effectively classified serological test results for maintenance hemodialysis patients using cellular bioelectrical indicators, therefore can help in making judgments about physicochemical indicators using electrical signals, thereby reducing the frequency of serological tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, pristine and silver-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO and Ag-ZnO NPs) were synthesized via a simple, eco-friendly method using a Plectranthus barbatus leaf aqueous extract as an NP-generating facilitator. The NPs obtained were characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and UV–Vis. FTIR confirmed chemical structure, XRD emphasizes retained hexagonal crystallite structure, SEM revealed a nanosheet morphology, and optical analysis indicated bandgap improvement from 2.55 to 2.51 and 2.04 eV for pristine, 0.02, and 0.06 Ag-doped ZnO NPs. Antibacterial test, performed on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, representing Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, using the disk diffusion method in reference to azithromycin standard drug, noticeably revealed selective action for S. aureus with negligible activity against E. coli. The activity against S. aureus was found to be concentration- and doping-dependent, and as they increased, the activity increased as well. Such improvement in ZnO properties, as a result of certain morphology enhancement, makes it one suitable nominee for applications in various fields, such as solar cells, photocatalysis, and antibacterial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimodal retrieval has gained much attention lately due to its effectiveness over uni-modal retrieval. For instance, visual features often under-constrain the description of an image in content-based retrieval; however, another modality, such as collateral text, can be introduced to abridge the semantic gap and make the retrieval process more efficient. This article proposes the application of cross-modal fusion and retrieval on real in vivo gastrointestinal images and linguistic cues, as the visual features alone are insufficient for image description and to assist gastroenterologists. So, a cross-modal information retrieval approach has been proposed to retrieve related images given text and vice versa while handling the heterogeneity gap issue among the modalities. The technique comprises two stages: (1) individual modality feature learning; and (2) fusion of two trained networks. In the first stage, two self-organizing maps (SOMs) are trained separately using images and texts, which are clustered in the respective SOMs based on their similarity. In the second (fusion) stage, the trained SOMs are integrated using an associative network to enable cross-modal retrieval. The underlying learning techniques of the associative network include Hebbian learning and Oja learning (Improved Hebbian learning). The introduced framework can annotate images with keywords and illustrate keywords with images, and it can also be extended to incorporate more diverse modalities. Extensive experimentation has been performed on real gastrointestinal images obtained from a known gastroenterologist that have collateral keywords with each image. The obtained results proved the efficacy of the algorithm and its significance in aiding gastroenterologists in quick and pertinent decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extracts has been proposed as a more advantageous and environmentally friendly alternative compared to existing physical/chemical methods. In this study, AgNPs were synthesized from silver nitrate using black mulberry (BM) extract. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized through an UV-visible spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, BM-AgNPs were subjected to antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. AgNPs biosynthesized from BM extract were dark brown in color and showed a strong peak at 437 nm, confirming that AgNPs were successfully synthesized. The size of AgNPs was 170.17 ± 12.65 nm, the polydispersity index was 0.281 ± 0.07, and the zeta potential value was −56.6 ± 0.56 mV, indicating that the particles were stable. The higher total phenol, flavonoid, and anthocyanin content of BM-AgNPs compared to BM extract indicates that the particles contain multiple active substances due to the formation of AgNPs. The DPPH and ABTS assays showed decreased IC50 values compared to BM extract, demonstrating improved antioxidant activity. AgNPs inhibited the growth of S. aureus and E. coli at 600 μg/mL, with minimum bactericidal concentrations determined to be 1000 and 1200 μg/mL, respectively. The anti-inflammatory activity was 64.28% at a BM-AgNPs concentration of 250 μg/mL. As the concentration increased, the difference from the standard decreased, indicating the inhibitory effect of AgNPs on bovine serum albumin denaturation. The viability of MCF-7 cells treated with BM-AgNPs was found to be significantly lower than that of cells treated with BM extract. The IC50 value of BM-AgNPs was determined to be 96.9 μg/mL. This study showed that BM-AgNPs have the potential to be used in the pharmaceutical industry as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial synthesis offers a sustainable and eco-friendly approach for nanoparticle production. This study explores the biogenic synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) utilizing the actinomycete Saccharopolyspora hirsuta (Ess_amA6) isolated from Tapinoma simrothi. The biosynthesized ZnO-NPs were characterized using various techniques to confirm their formation and properties. UV–visible spectroscopy revealed a characteristic peak at 372 nm, indicative of ZnO-NPs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystalline structure of the ZnO-NPs as hexagonal wurtzite with a crystallite size of approximately 37.5 ± 13.60 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed the presence of both spherical and roughly hexagonal ZnO nanoparticles in an agglomerated state with a diameter of approximately 44 nm. The biogenic ZnO-NPs exhibited promising biomedical potential. They demonstrated selective cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines, demonstrating higher efficacy against Hep-2 cells (IC50 = 73.01 µg/mL) compared to MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 112.74 µg/mL). Furthermore, the biosynthesized ZnO-NPs displayed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus with clear zones of inhibition of 12.67 mm and 14.33 mm, respectively. The MIC and MBC values against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus ranged between 12.5 and 50 µg/mL. These findings suggest the potential of S. hirsuta-mediated ZnO-NPs as promising biocompatible nanomaterials with dual applications as antimicrobial and anticancer agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In current research, Zinc Nanoparticles (ZnNPs) were synthesized using green synthesis technology. It is the best method which is eco-friendly and cost-effective. The extract of fungus Cordyceps militaris was used for this purpose, which was followed by muffle furnace assisted synthesis of zinc nanoparticles. Objectives: The main objective of this research work was to assess the anticholinesterase and antioxidant activity mediated Anti-Alzheimer activity of Cordyceps militaris and zinc nanoparticles prepared by green synthesis process. Materials and Methods: The zinc nanoparticles were prepared by green synthesis process using extract of fungus Cordyceps militaris. Characterization of prepared nanoparticles were done by the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), EDX and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy for shape and size, Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), functional groups, crystallinity. It was observed that SPR peak were formed 375 nm, which was determined through UV-visible Spectroscopy. Results: SEM and TEM photomicrograph shown particles were formed spherical in the shape with smooth surface having 37.09 nm average particle sizes. SPR for nanoparticles was found at 300 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis confirm crystalline shaped of prepared nanoparticles. Moreover, during the synthesis of nanoparticles, the colour of suspension changed from dark yellow to colourless with development of cloudiness in solution. The different functional groups involved in nanoparticle stabilization were determined using FTIR Spectroscopy. Conclusion: Furthermore, the Alzheimer activity of plant extracts and ZnNPs have been carried out using the Ellman technique through cholinesterase with small modification. The IC50 value in anticholinesterase inhibitory activity of zinc nanoparticles was found 83.16237 μg/mL while IC50 value of donepezil was found 51.38714 μg/mL which was taken as standard. It was concluded that the result indicated the promising inhibitory potential of cholinesterase activity. The antioxidant assay results with percentage inhibition 127.0308 μg/mL showed the most effective antioxidant property source than aqueous extract of Cordyceps militaris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solanum surattense Burm. f. is a significant member of the Solanaceae family, and the Solanum genus is renowned for its traditional medicinal uses and bioactive potential. This systematic review adheres to PRISMA methodology, analyzing scientific publications between 1753 and 2023 from B-on, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science, aiming to provide comprehensive and updated information on the distribution, ethnomedicinal uses, chemical constituents, and pharmacological activities of S. surattense, highlighting its potential as a source of herbal drugs. Ethnomedicinally, this species is important to treat skin diseases, piles complications, and toothache. The fruit was found to be the most used part of this plant (25%), together with the whole plant (22%) used to treat different ailments, and its decoction was found to be the most preferable mode of herbal drug preparation. A total of 338 metabolites of various chemical classes were isolated from S. surattense, including 137 (40.53%) terpenoids, 56 (16.56%) phenol derivatives, and 52 (15.38%) lipids. Mixtures of different parts of this plant in water–ethanol have shown in vitro and/or in vivo antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-tumoral, hepatoprotective, and larvicidal activities. Among the metabolites, 51 were identified and biologically tested, presenting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumoral as the most reported activities. Clinical trials in humans made with the whole plant extract showed its efficacy as an anti-asthmatic agent. Mostly steroidal alkaloids and triterpenoids, such as solamargine, solanidine, solasodine, solasonine, tomatidine, xanthosaponin A–B, dioscin, lupeol, and stigmasterol are biologically the most active metabolites with high potency that reflects the new and high potential of this species as a novel source of herbal medicines. More experimental studies and a deeper understanding of this plant must be conducted to ensure its use as a source of raw materials for pharmaceutical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was to examine the antibacterial and anticancer potential of titanium dioxide mediated (TiO2) nanoparticles using Hypsizygus ulmarius. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV, XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX, HR-TEM, PSA, and zeta potential. The UV–visible spectroscopy results exhibited a sharp absorbance peak range at 264 nm. The X-ray diffraction analysis reflected the presence of diffraction major peak range at (101), (103), (004), (200), (112), (200), (105), (211), (213), (314), (602), and (215) planes of face centered cubic TiO2NPs. The HR-TEM absorption was expressed the presence of spherical structure particles with a normal size of 80 nm. The EDX results of mycosynthesized TiO2NPs recorded the strong major intense signal which confirms the presence of pure Ti (85%). Mycosynthesized TiO2NPs have a zeta potential value of − 18.4 mV, it shows that they are stable in water. For antibacterial assay, the mycosynthesized TiO2NPs have broad spectrum of growth inhibition against tested human pathogenic bacteria viz., S. aureus (8.4 ± 0.3), B. cereus (7.1 ± 0.5), E. coli (6.2 ± 0.3), and K. pneumoniae (4.0 ± 0.1 mm). The anticancer activity results of green synthesized TiO2NPs proved as highly toxic for the HepG2 cell line and show a reduced cell viability (85%) and L50 value of 83.3 µg/ml after 24 h treatment. Finally, outcome of the present investigation shows that the mycosynthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles using mushroom extract served as an alternative and eco-friendly nano drugs in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the ecological properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, the fabrication of PVC-based composites using biofillers with acceptable performance characteristics could be considered. In this work, plant-filled PVC-based composite materials were fabricated and their optical, structural, thermal, and mechanical properties, depending on the nature of the filler, were studied. Spruce flour, birch flour, and rice husk were used as fillers. Optical measurements showed the selected technological parameters, allowing films with a uniform distribution of dispersed plant filler in the polymer matrix to be obtained. Using the plant fillers in PVC films leads to a reduction in strength characteristics; for instance, the tensile strength changed from 18.0 MPa (for pure PVC film) to ~7 MPa (for composites with 20 wt.% of fillers), and to ~5–6.2 MPa (for composites with 40 wt.% of fillers). Thermal investigations showed that the samples with plant fillers could be used at low temperatures without changing their operating characteristics. Thus, plant-filled PVC-based composite materials have a wide operating temperature range, from—65 °C to 150 °C. TGA analysis has demonstrated that the rice husk affected the thermal stability of the composites by increasing their thermal decomposition resistance. The ability to absorb water was observed during the investigation of water absorption of the samples. And the highest degree of water absorption (up to 160 mg/g) was detected for the sample with 40 wt.% of rice husk. In general, plant-filled polymer composites based on PVC can be used on an equal basis with unfilled PVC plastic compounds for some applications such as in construction (for example, for design tasks). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil (TTO) is an antimicrobial agent, and hence, its use in fabricating nanoparticles (NP) may be useful in providing more efficacious antimicrobial agents. The current research aimed to test the antimicrobial efficacy of TTO and its TTO-Metal-NPs against oral microbes: Porphyromonas gingivalis, Enterococcus faecalis, and Streptococcus mutans. The antimicrobial activity of TTO and zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) nanoparticles (NPs) and the combined effects of antimicrobial agents were investigated using agar well diffusion assays. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to identify the phyto-constituents of TTO. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), dynamic light scatter (DLS), and zeta potential were utilized to analyze the biogenic nanoparticles' morphology, size, and potential. The antimicrobial mode of action was determined by assessing the morphological changes under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The TTO extracts converted Zn and Fe ions to NPs, having an average size of 97.50 (ZnNPs) and 102.4 nm (FeNPs). All tested agents had significant antibacterial efficacy against the tested oral microbes. However, the TTO extract was more efficacious than the NPs. Combination treatment of TTO with antibiotics resulted in partial additive effects against P. gingivalis and partial antagonistic effects against E. faecalis, S. mutans, and common mouthwashes (Oral B and chlorhexidine). TTO and NP-treated bacteria underwent morphological changes on treatment. M. alternifolia phytochemicals could be useful for further research and development of antimicrobial NPs. The current study highlights the variance in activity observed for different types of bacteria and antagonistic effects seen with common mouthwashes, which represent a threat to therapeutic efficacy and heighten the risk of clinical microbial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt oxide nanoparticles (Co3O4-NPs) and cobalt sulfide nanoparticles (Co9S8-NPs) have shown extensive potential in electrochemical sensing, catalysis, specific drug targeting, and resonance imaging. However, Co9S8-NPs have been rarely explored for biomedical applications as compared to their oxide counterparts. Thus, in the current study, biocompatible PEGylated Co9S8-NPs and Co3O4-NPs are explored and compared for biological and photocatalytic properties. PEGylation of both the NPs is achieved using a simple chemical co-precipitation method followed by characterization using UV visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and pH-responsive dispersion study. After thorough characterization, the NPs are evaluated and compared for various biological applications including antibacterial, antifungal, antileishmanial, antioxidant, and biocompatibility as well as photo-catalytic dye degradation studies. Both the NPs have shown excellent biological applications; however, Co9S8-NPs exhibit comparatively better antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties except antileishmanial potential where Co3O4-NPs show slight superiority. Furthermore, Co3O4-NPs indicate a higher degradation potential of methylene blue (MB) up to 46.93%. In comparison, Co9S8-NPs have a degradation ability of up to 42%, at 20 mg/ml within 3 h, which indicates considerable remediation potential of the NPs. Interestingly, both the NPs exhibit non-hemolytic behavior, thus demonstrating a compatible and bio-safe nature of both the NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we have investigated and compared biocompatible calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO-NPs) with different surface chemistries for biological properties. In the study, green synthesis is achieved using an aqueous extract of Potentilla bifurca while chemical synthesized polyethylene glycol (PEG) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-coated CaO-NPs are prepared using a facile coprecipitation approach. The nanoparticles are characterized using different techniques including, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Moreover, yield and pH-responsive dispersion studies are also carried out. After comprehensive characterization, the NPs are explored for potential biological properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, antileshmanial, antioxidant, and biocompatibility. Our study reveals that green synthesis results in CaO-NPs with high antioxidant and dispersion properties while chemical synthesis in particular CTAB-coated CaO-NPs exhibits remarkably high antibacterial, antifungal, and leishmancidal properties. For instance, the NPs resulted in 25 ± 1.4 mm and 16 ± 0.4 mm zone of inhibition (ZOI) against Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus flavus,, respectively, while 81.10% and 79.34% inhibition against the promastigote and amastigote forms of the leishmania tropica. However, none of the NPs displayed hemolytic behavior, affirming the biocompatible nature of all the NPs. Our study thus concludes that surface characteristics play a vital role in defining the biological properties of CaO-NPs and the NPs could be tailored to harness the required biological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible job shop scheduling problem (FJSP), widely prevalent in many intelligent manufacturing industries, is one of the most classic problems of production scheduling and combinatorial optimization. In actual manufacturing enterprises, the setup of machines and the handling of jobs have an important impact on the scheduling plan. Furthermore, there is a trend for a cluster of machines with similar functionalities to form a work center. Considering the above constraints, a new order-driven multi-equipment work center FJSP model with setup and handling including multiple objectives encompassing the minimization of the makespan, the number of machine shutdowns, and the number of handling batches is established. An improved shuffled frog leading algorithm is designed to solve it through the optimization of the initial solution population, the improvement of evolutionary operations, and the incorporation of Pareto sorting. The algorithm also combines the speed calculation method in the gravity search algorithm to enhance the stability of the solution search. Some standard FJSP data benchmarks have been selected to evaluate the effectiveness of the algorithm, and the experimental results confirm the satisfactory performance of the proposed algorithm. Finally, a problem example is designed to demonstrate the algorithm's capability to generate an excellent scheduling plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the mechanical properties of coconut sawdust powder combined with polypropylene (PP). The effect of compatibility content, wood powder (WP) content, and injection molding parameters on the properties of coconut wood powder composite (WPC) is evaluated. The results could be used to figure out the optimal mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, elastic modulus, and flexural strength by selecting suitable parameters and composition. The bonding between the WP particles and the PP matrix is good, and the WP is uniformly distributed across the composite matrix, as indicated in the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results. Interestingly, with the presence of the compatibilizer oleamide, increasing the WP content from 20 wt.% to 40 wt.% did not result in WP accumulation in the composite matrix. Notably, at 20 wt.% WP, the elongation is the highest (at 7.40 wt.%), while at 30 wt.% WP, the elastic modulus reaches the highest value. The maximum ultimate tensile strength (UTS) value is obtained at 35 wt.% WP. Higher WP mostly results in greater flexural strength and shore D hardness. At 40 wt.% WP, the WPC achieves its peak shore D hardness of 77.6. The Taguchi results suggest that WP content is the most critical factor in the UTS value of coconut WPCs. The filling pressure ranks second, followed by the packing pressure. Finally, unlike the other characteristics, the melt temperature has a minimal impact on the UTS value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation explores the antibacterial potential of novel ZnO-NPs synthesized from Acacia nilotica pods extract and immobilized onto sodium alginate beads to control bacterial pollution in wastewater. Phenolics and flavonoids were major phytoconstituents acting as capping, reducing, and stabilizing agents. UV–Vis analysis showed strong absorption band at 340 nm. XRD and TEM revealed hexagonal crystalline structure for zincite of average particles diameter 33.87 and 32.74 nm, respectively. FTIR demonstrated several bands with functional groups (O–H, C-H, C = O, C = C, and C–O–C) involved in ZnO-NPs synthesis. SEM images showed NPs surface completely colonized by E.coli, while EDX spectrum showed signals for zinc (52.94%) and oxygen (26.58%) confirming NPs purity. Adhesion capacity studies revealed ZnO-NPs potential (0.5 g) to remove E.coli after 120 min. Kinetic and isotherm studies indicated that pseudo-second-order model and Freundlich isotherm were best fit describing adhesion mechanism. Electrostatic attraction between negatively charged E.coli and positively charged ZnO-NPs was followed by generation of H2O2 leading to cell apoptosis. Adhesion optimization using Box–Behnken design under response surface methodology was 99.8% at disinfectant dose 30 g/L, contact time 6 h, and E.coli concentration 150 × 107 cfu/mL. For application, real wastewater was treated with removal 98.2%, 97.2%, and 96.5% for total coliform, fecal coliform, and E.coli, respectively, after 6 h. ZnO-NPs showed sustainable efficiency during four consecutive cycles of treatment. The study concluded the efficiency, eco-friendly and cost-effectiveness of phytofabricated ZnO-NPs as disinfectants for wastewater and recommended future studies on large scale for possible wastewater reuse in safe unrestricted irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plant extracts include a multitude of chemical compounds. Therefore, there is a need for suitable analytical methods for their identification and standardization. The aim of the present study was to extract, isolate, and identify rutin from Capparis zeylanica (CZ) leaves and determine its content in the stems, leaves, roots, and flowers of CZ plant by a simple, sensitive, precise, accurate, and specific high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for the first time. The HPTLC method used silica gel 60 F254 for the stationary phase, ethyl acetate‒glacial acetic acid‒formic acid–water (10:1.1:1.1:2.6, V/V) as the mobile phase, and scanning under ultraviolet (UV) 264 nm light, by using deuterium lamp, without chemical reagents. The calibration curves for rutin were found to be linear in the range between 400 and 1400 ng per spot with R2 = 0.9953 ± 0.0004. This method showed good peak symmetry for rutin (RF: 0.418 ± 0.004) with limit of detection and limit of quantification of 14.10 and 42.73 ng/spot, respectively. The precision, accuracy, robustness, and specificity studies for CZ extracts and rutin are within the limits as per the International Council for Harmonisation guidelines. This study confirms the presence of rutin with content (% w/w) of 3.16 ± 0.01 in leaves, 5.92 ± 0.04 in stems, and 2.23 ± 0.02 in flowers, on dry weight basis of CZ extracts. However, it is not found at detectable levels in the roots of CZ plant. In conclusion, the proposed method is simple, reliable, and specific for the quantification of rutin. The results also show that CZ could be an important nutritional source of rutin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ephedra alata leaf extracts have therapeutic properties and contain various natural compounds known as phytochemicals. This study assessed the phytochemical content and antioxidant effects of a Ephedra alata leaf extract, as well as zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle production. The extract contained phenolic acids, including vanillic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, vanillin and rutin. Its total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were 48.7 ± 0.9 mg.g-1 and 1.7 ± 0.4 mg.g-1, respectively. The extract displayed a DPPH inhibition rate of 70.5%, total antioxidant activity of 49.5 ± 3.4 mg.g-1, and significant antimicrobial activity toward Gram-positive and negative bacteria. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles had spherical shape, crystallite size of 25 nm, particle size between 5 and 30 nm, and bandgap energy of 3.3 eV. In specific conditions (90 min contact time, pH 7, and 25°C), these nanoparticles efficiently photodegraded 87% of methylene blue, suggesting potential applications for sustainable water treatment and pollution control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecofriendly and cost effective biosynthesis of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) make them excellent material for application in various fields. The current study investigate the phytogenic synthesis of ZnO NPs from the aqueous extract of Evolvulus alsinoides plant as a novel resource which shows reducing as well as stabilizing agents. The biogenic approach applied for green synthesis of ZnO NPs characterized by Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) observing a peak at 264 nm. Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The data obtained from SEM and TEM techniques showed spherical shaped nanoparticles and size range in 100 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary challenge for farmers at present is providing for an ever-increasing population while having little available land that is severely polluted. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit interesting properties and potential for applications in various disciplines, especially as nanomaterials in agriculture. In this study, to improve the quality of green gram (Vigna radiata) seeds and the first-time cultivation of green gram pods, ZnO NPs were synthesized using seaweed (Codium decorticatum) extract. Several investigations show that the synthesis procedure of ZnO NPs determines the physicochemical properties of ZnO NPs. The antimicrobial efficacy of plant pathogenic organisms such as Xanthomonas phaseoli, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, Cercospora canescens, Rhizoctonia bataticola, and Ascochyta phaseolorum was examined using the agar well technique. X-ray diffraction, UV spectrum, and field emission scanning electron microscopy analyses were used to investigate the structural, optical, and morphological characteristics of the thus-synthesized NPs, respectively. These analyses demonstrated the crystal structure and the spherical shape of the NPs and showed that they ranged in size from 25 to 35 nm. The purity of the NPs and the functional moieties contributing to their efficient manufacturing and stability were investigated using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Green gram seeds were subjected to foliar treatments of various concentrations of the synthesized ZnO nano-fertilizer. Among these concentrations, the 20 mg/L ZnO nano-fertilizer resulted in the highest level of biochemical content and improvements in different growth metrics in plants. These results show that the biosynthesis of ZnO NPs was safe, effective, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, the thus-synthesized ZnO NPs showed strong antibacterial activity in plants. In addition, they were found to be efficient in improving the cultivation and production of green grams. Hence, these ZnO NPs show outstanding antibacterial activities and could be recommended as nano-fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been a remarkable increase in cancer and cancer-related deaths. In this study, the impacts of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) produced from the aqueous leaf extract of Mentha longifolia L. (ML) on ovary adenocarcinoma (OVCAR-3), colorectal carcinoma (HCT-116), and healthy retinal pigment epithelial cell (RPE-1) lines were investigated. The MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) test was performed to discover its antiproliferative properties. As a result of the application of ML-ZnONPs on RPE-1, OVCAR-3, and HCT-116 cell lines at doses (µg/mL) of 250, 500, and 1000 for 24 hours, the viability rates (%) in the cell lines were 18.73-30.56, 21.98-28.76, and 27.27-40.93, respectively. In the 48-hour application, the viability rates (%) of the same cells were between 29.51-46.83, 32.49-40.81, and 46.82-44.37, respectively. The MTT test revealed that ML-ZnONPs strongly suppressed the growth of RPE-1, OVCAR-3, and HCT-116 cell lines. The test showed that the effect of dose increase and time on the viability of both cancer cell lines was negative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), along with the relative reduction in the production of new antimicrobials, significantly limits the therapeutic options in infectious diseases. Thus, novel treatments, especially in the current era, where AMR is increasing, are urgently needed. There are several ongoing studies on non-classical therapies for infectious diseases, such as bacteriophages, antimicrobial peptides, and nanotechnology, among others. Nanomaterials involve materials on the nanoscale that could be used in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases. This review provides an overview of the applications of nanotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases from a clinician's perspective, with a focus on pathogens with AMR. Applications of nanomaterials in diagnosis, by taking advantage of their electrochemical, optic, magnetic, and fluorescent properties, are described. Moreover, the potential of metallic or organic nanoparticles (NPs) in the treatment of infections is also addressed. Finally, the potential use of NPs in the development of safe and efficient vaccines is also reviewed. Further studies are needed to prove the safety and efficacy of NPs that would facilitate their approval by regulatory authorities for clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological progress has led to the development of analytical tools that promise a huge socio-economic impact on our daily lives and an improved quality of life for all. The use of plant extract synthesized nanoparticles in the development and fabrication of optical or electrochemical (bio)sensors presents major advantages. Besides their low-cost fabrication and scalability, these nanoparticles may have a dual role, serving as a transducer component and as a recognition element, the latter requiring their functionalization with specific components. Different approaches, such as surface modification techniques to facilitate precise biomolecule attachment, thereby augmenting recognition capabilities, or fine tuning functional groups on nanoparticle surfaces are preferred for ensuring stable biomolecule conjugation while preserving bioactivity. Size optimization, maximizing surface area, and tailored nanoparticle shapes increase the potential for robust interactions and enhance the transduction. This article specifically aims to illustrate the adaptability and effectiveness of these biosensing platforms in identifying precise biological targets along with their far-reaching implications across various domains, spanning healthcare diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and diverse bioanalytical fields. By exploring these applications, the article highlights the significance of prioritizing the use of natural resources for nanoparticle synthesis. This emphasis aligns with the worldwide goal of envisioning sustainable and customized biosensing solutions, emphasizing heightened sensitivity and selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most studies about geopolymeric materials used in construction, the antibacterial properties of the building materials are treated as secondary features. Today, antimicrobial properties are a key feature in many building applications. The main objective of this article is to summarize the state-of-the-art in the area of design, development, and applications of nanoparticles as additives to geopolymer composites used in construction to improve their physical mechanical properties and induce a potential antibacterial effect, protecting them against alkali-resistant bacteria. On the basis of the literature and authors' experience, the most important methods of obtaining especially the porous geopolymers, of nanomaterials used as additives, with potential antibacterial effect but also the potential mechanism of action against bacterial development were presented. The main findings show that using graphene oxide (GO) in geopolymer composites, but also other nanoparticles such as silver (Ag), zinc oxide (ZnO), silica (SiO2), titanium dioxide (TiO2), copper (Cu) as additives, is an effective way to induce a potential antibacterial effect and to improve the physical and mechanical properties in building materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of frequently found cancers in Thailand. One of the causative agents is the infection of the high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 and 18. Traditional medicines are rich sources of bioactive compounds which are a valuable source for the development of novel cancer therapies. In this study, the therapeutic effects of 3 traditional medicines, KerraTM, KSTM, and MinozaTM, were studied on HeLa and CaSki cells. Materials and Methods: The effects of KerraTM, KSTM, and MinozaTM on cancer cells were evaluated through cytotoxicity and cell death assays. The infection assay using HPV-16 pseudovirus was also carried out. Results: All traditional medicines efficiently suppressed cell growths of HeLa and CaSki, with KerraTM being the most potent anticancer agent followed by KSTM and MinozaTM. KerraTM at 158 µg/mL and 261 µg/mL significantly increases the percentage inhibition of the HPV-16 pseudovirus infection in a pre-attachment step in a dose-dependent manner, while KSTM at 261 µg/mL efficiently inhibited viral infection in both pre-attachment and adsorption steps. However, KerraTM, KSTM, and MinozaTM at subtoxic concentrations could not reduce the viral E6 mRNA expressions of HPV-16 and HPV-18. Cell death assay by acridine orange/ethidium bromide showed that KerraTM increased population of dead cells in dose-dependent manner in both CaSki and HeLa. The percentage of secondary necrosis in KerraTM-treated CaSki was higher than that of HeLa cells, while the percentage of late apoptotic cells in HeLa was higher than that of CaSki, indicating that HeLa was more susceptible to KerraTM than CaSki. For KSTM and MinozaTM, these extracts at 250 µg/mL promoted autophagy over cell death. At 500 µg/mL, the percentage of dead cells in KerraTM was higher than that of KSTM and MinozaTM. Conclusions: KerraTM is a potent traditional medicine for promoting cancer cell death. KerraTM is possibly useful in the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer. Further investigation will be carried out to gain a better understanding of the biochemical mechanism and the pharmacological activity underlying this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea-cake content-based image retrieval (CBIR) is an essential issue in tea-cake traceability. Popular CBIR methods work on medical and social networking, whereas tea-cake images have intensive and parallel representations among classes. While facing tea-cake CBIR, low inter-class and high intra-class distances increase retrieval difficulties using traditional CBIR methods. Thus, this paper proposes a tea-cake CBIR approach based on deep neural networks to retrieve tea-cakes. In the model, we establish a feature extraction model with designed dense blocks, where a cross-entropy loss function is explored to train the model and catch detailed features. Furthermore, to decrease intra-class and expand inter-class interval, a masked autoregressive discriminative normalization flow (MADNF) is presented to map the gained features in high dimensions to corresponding representations in Gaussian spaces. Particularly, a maximum likelihood function is developed to train MADNF for avoiding non-convergence. Extensive experiments on the tea-cake dataset show our method has significant performance compared with current competitors. Furthermore, experiments on the bird species dataset further demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with the traditional hashing methods, deep hashing methods generate hash codes with rich semantic information and greatly improve the performances in the image retrieval field. However, it is unsatisfied for current deep hashing methods to predict the similarity of hard example pairs. There exist two main factors affecting the ability of learning these pairs, which are weak key features extraction and the shortage of hard example pairs. In this paper, we give a novel end-to-end model to extract the key feature and obtain hash code with the accurate semantic information. In addition, we redesign an indicator to assess the hard degree of pairs and update penalty weights of them in the proposed hard pair-wise loss. It effectively alleviates the shortage problem. Experimental results on CIFAR-10 and NUS–WIDE demonstrate that our model outperformances the mainstream hashing-based image retrieval methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of Things (IoT) concept is tremendously applied in our current daily lives. The IoT involves Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) as a part of the infrastructure that helps with the data gathering from different types of sensors. In general, security worries have increased significantly as these types of technologies have become more common. For this reason, manifold realizations and studies have been carried out to address this matter. In this work, we tried to provide a thorough analysis of the cryptography-based solutions for RFID cards (MIFARE cards as a case study) by performing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to deliver the up-to-date trends and outlooks on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, rapid, sensitive, precise, accurate, robust, and specific high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)‒densitometric method has been developed for the quantification of stigmasterol in leaves, flowers, stems, seeds, and roots of Hygrophila schulli (HS) plant. The laboratory-isolated and identified (by UV, FTIR, 1H- and 13C-NMR, and MS) stigmasterol from the HS roots was used as a marker compound, and chloroform extracts of different parts of HS plant were used to develop the proposed method. Separation was performed on aluminum-backed HPTLC plates precoated with silica gel 60 F254 (20 cm × 10 cm) with toluene‒methanol (9:1, V/V) as the optimized mobile phase followed by post-chromatographic derivatization with anisaldehyde‒H2SO4 reagent, at 105 °C for 4‒5 min in an oven. The densitometric scanning of the derivatized plate was performed at 520 nm using CAMAG TLC Scanner 3 equipped with winCATS software. The proposed method was found to develop compact bands for stigmasterol (RF: 0.47 ± 0.02). Further, the method was validated in terms of linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), robustness, and specificity. The calibration plot was linear in the range of 100‒500 ng band‒1 of stigmasterol with a linear regression equation of y = 10.873x + 35.143 and a correlation coefficient (0.998) indicating good linear dependence of peak area on concentration. Stigmasterol was found to be stable in chloroform at room temperature for 24 h (%RSD = 0.64). The average percentage recovery of stigmasterol from the chloroform extracts of HS leaves, flowers, stems, roots, and seeds was 99.18 ± 0.69, 98.95 ± 0.60, 99.22 ± 0.24, 98.97 ± 0.56, and 98.86 ± 0.36, respectively, with % w/w content of 1.94 ± 0.16, 2.42 ± 0.02, 2.87 ± 0.22, 1.65 ± 0.07, and 0.59 ± 0.03, respectively. The LOD and LOQ were found to be 6.87 ng and 20.82 ng, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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One of the most common malignancies diagnosed and the leading cause of death for cancer-stricken women globally is breast cancer. The molecular subtype affects therapy options because it is a complex disorder with multiple subtypes. By concentrating on receptor activation, mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) can be employed as a therapeutic target. The goal of this work was to screen a number of inhibitors produced from Hibiscus rosa-sinensis for possible target to inhibit the mTOR and to determine which has the greatest affinity for the receptor. Primarily, the ionization states of the chosen compounds were predicted using the ChemAxon web platform, and their pKa values were estimated. Given the significance of interactions between proteins in the development of drugs, structure-based virtual screening was done using AutoDock Vina. Approximately 120 Hibiscus components and ten approved anti-cancer drugs, including the mTOR inhibitor everolimus, were used in the comparative analysis. By using Lipinski's rule of five to the chosen compounds, the ADMET profile and drug-likeness characteristics were further examined to assess the anti-breast cancer activity. The compounds with the highest ranked binding poses were loaded using the SeeSAR tool and the HYDE scoring to give interactive, desolvation, and visual ΔG estimation for ligand binding affinity assessment. Following, the prospective candidates underwent three replicas of 100 ns long molecular dynamics simulations, preceded with MM-GBSA binding free energy calculation. The stability of the protein–ligand complex was determined using root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), and protein–ligand interactions. The results demonstrated that the best mTOR binding affinities were found for stigmastadienol (107), lupeol (66), and taraxasterol acetate (111), which all performed well in comparison to the control compounds. Thus, bioactive compounds isolated from Hibiscus rosa-sinensis could serve as lead molecules for the creation of potent and effective mTOR inhibitors for the breast cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most prevalent bacterial infections worldwide, with 11% of the global population getting infected every year. These infections are largely attributed to quorum sensing (QS)-dependent ability of pathogens to form biofilms in the urinary tract. Antimicrobial resistance is increasing, and the use of antimicrobial medicines in the future is yet uncertain. The desert medicinal plants have great potential to treat several diseases as per the available ethnobotanical database. Some of these plants have been used in folklore medicines to treat urinary tract infections also. There are many bioactive compounds derived from these desert medicinal plants that have been documented to possess antimicrobial as well as antibiofilm activity against uropathogens. The minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of these plant extracts have been reported in the range of 31.5–250 μg/mL. The rising prevalence of drug-resistant diseases necessitates standardised modern analytical technologies to detect and isolate novel bioactive compounds from medicinal plants. This review seeks to combine the studies of desert plants with antimicrobial and anti-quorum sensing properties, supporting their sustainable use in treatment of urinary tract infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As per the World health organization (WHO), cancer is a prominent cause of death globally before age 70. There is an unmet need for effective cancer therapeutics. Although conventional anti-cancer modalities apply to several types of cancer, there are still multiple drawbacks, such as poor bioavailability, toxic effects, and lack of selectivity in targeting cancer cells. Multiple studies have highlighted the importance of metallic nanoparticles as an anti-cancer modality due to their optical properties, biocompatibility, and ease of surface functionalization. Recently, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) have gained momentum in exploring anti-cancer properties. Green technology-assisted ZnONPs have been recognized as therapeutic agents with enhanced anti-cancer properties, an extended half-life, and lesser immunogenic properties. Hence, biosynthesized ZnONPs are currently the focus of extensive studies and evaluations for the early detection and management of cancers. However, their performance in clinical studies is yet to be determined. The current study offers a thorough overview of recent scholarly investigations pertaining to the biosynthesis of ZnONPs. This review encompasses mechanistic insights into the biological machinery involved in NP production and the most up-to-date findings on bio-templates used for biosynthesis. In addition, it provides a comprehensive idea of the in vitro and in vivo models for evaluating the anti-cancer properties of biogenic ZnONPs and the plausible mechanism of actions of the biosynthesized ZnONPs. The anti-cancer properties of biosynthesized ZnONPs may vary based on the chemical constituents of the biological source used in their synthesis. Further research is warranted to find a suitable bio-template for biosynthesizing nanoparticles with potent anti-cancer activity and their clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latest changes in nanotechnology have given a lot of attention to eco-friendly procedures that promote economic sustainability using conservative interaction settings and non-toxic precursors. As a reducing and stabilizing agent, an aqueous extract of heneicosane was used in the current work to create bio-augmented silver nanoparticles utilizing an easy, creative, and reasonably priced green approach. The produced Ag NPs were analyzed using a variety of techniques, including UV–Vis, XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM with EDAX, and TEM. An agar well technique was used to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of bio-mediated Ag NPs against pathogenic organisms. To test the anti-proliferative activity, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT assay) and neutral red absorption (NRU) assays, which can detect hydrogen peroxide and photocatalytic analysis of methylene red dye, were performed. The Ag NPs showed powerful antimicrobial activity against a variety of microbial pathogens and substantial anticancer activity in human lung cancer cells (A549). Interestingly, the highest methylene red degradation percentage obtained was 96.2 after 55 min. As a result, the selected nanoparticles mixture enhanced antibacterial, anticancer, sensing, and photocatalytic capabilities. The combination might be a beneficial tool for eliminating dye pollution from wastewater and, ideally, for fighting lung cancer in the pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today aggressive agricultural efforts to increase crop productivity have sparked new research formulations for innovative fertilizers and natural insecticides, particularly those incorporating nanomaterials. For the first time, bioengineered ZnO NPs (nanoparticles) were done employing peel waste of vegetable extruent as a major mediator to boost the value of cluster beans (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) seeds as well as the higher yield of cluster beans pods. The findings of several phytochemical property investigations show the creation of ZnO NPs. The agar well method was used to explore the antagonistic efficiency of plant pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Candida albicans, and Candida glabrata. For, cluster beans foliar sprays of bioengineering based ZnO nano-fertilizer at varied doses were applied. Among the various concentrations tested, the plant obtained 20 mg/L had the utmost bioactive contents in comparison to the control. Growth characters such as germination of seeds (95%), total plant length (37 cm), shoot length (20 cm), root length(8.2 cm), gross wet weight (25 gm), shoot wet weight (18 gm), root wet weight (1.92 gm), gross dry weight (6.68 gm), shoot dry weight (5.81 gm), root dry weight (0.49 gm), branch numbers (11), leaf expanse (8.9 cm), pod numbers (15), length of the pod (19.6 cm) and weight of the pod (0.126 gm) this sort of seed was recognized as being superior to hydro-primed seeds. From this investigation,we resolved that the bioengineered ZnO NPs has been effectively realized and is a biocompatible,less-toxic, ecologically friendly substance. ZnO NPs thereby synthesized proved to have exceptional antimicrobial potential against pathogens in plants as well as remarkable results in improving the growth and yield of cluster beans. Therefore, a bioengineering-based ZnO nano fertilizer can be recommended for agricultural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green ZnO NPs were employed to fabricate Citrus aurantium fruit peel extract in this study. Several optical spectroscopic and electron microscopic methods were used to confirm their formation. The fabricated ZnO NPs had a spherical form with a good crystallinity and average size is 25 nm. The optimal concentrations of ZnO NPs for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedling emergence and germination were investigated at different NPs doses (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 100, and 200 mg/L). Among the doses tested, 20 mg/L showed significant biochemical content as well as an increase in a variety of growth indices. As a result, green fabricated ZnO NP's potential as a nano-based nutrition source for agricultural applications has been identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying playing styles in football is highly valuable for achieving effective performance analysis. While there is extensive research on team styles, studies on individual player styles are still in their early stages. Thus, the aim of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing literature on player styles and identify research areas required for further development, offering new directions for future research. Following the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews, we conducted a search using a specific strategy across four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus). Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to the initial search results, ultimately identifying twelve studies suitable for inclusion in this review. Through thematic analysis and qualitative evaluation of these studies, several key findings emerged: (a) a lack of a structured theoretical framework for player styles based on their positions within the team formation, (b) absence of studies investigating the influence of contextual variables on player styles, (c) methodological deficiencies observed in the reviewed studies, and (d) disparity in the objectives of sports science and data science studies. By identifying these gaps in the literature and presenting a structured framework for player styles (based on the compilation of all reported styles from the reviewed studies), this review aims to assist team stakeholders and provide guidance for future research endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]