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Developing high-performance and durable catalysts presents a significant challenge for oxidizing toxic inorganic and pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater. Recently, there has been a surge in the development of new heterogeneous catalysts for degrading pharmaceutical compounds, driven by advancements in electrocatalysts and photoelectrocatalysts. In this study, a plasmonic Ag nanoparticles decorated CoFe 2 O 4 @TiO 2 heteronanostructures have been successfully designed to fabricate a high-performing photoelectrode for the oxidation of pharmaceutical compounds. The developed Ag-CoFe 2 O 4 @TiO 2 possessed a higher electrochemical stability and effectively harvested the UV to visible and NIR radiation in sunlight which generates the enormous photochemical reactive species that involved in the oxidation of ibuprofen in wastewater. Under direct sunlight irradiation, Ag-CoFe 2 O 4 @TiO 2 achieved complete oxidation of ibuprofen in wastewater at 0.8 V vs RHE. This indicates that metallic Ag nanoparticles are involved in the charge separation and transport of charge carriers from the photoactive sites of CoFe 2 O 4 @TiO 2 , promoting the generation of abundant hydroxy, oxy, and superoxide radicals that actively break the bonds of ibuprofen. Additionally, oxidation agents such as urea and H 2 O 2 were utilized to enhance the formation of superoxide ions and hydroxyl radicals, which rapidly participate in the oxidation of ibuprofen. Significantly, testing for recyclability confirmed the stability of the Ag-CoFe 2 O 4 @TiO 2 photoanode, ensuring its suitability for prolonged use in photoelectrochemical advanced oxidation processes. Integrating Ag-CoFe 2 O 4 @TiO 2 photoanodes into water purification systems could enhance economic feasibility, reduce energy consumption, and improve efficiency., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The photoelectrocatalytic advanced oxidation process (PEAOP) necessitates high-performing and stable photoanodes for the effective oxidation of complex pollutants in industrial wastewater. This study presents the construction of 2D WO 3 /MXene heteronanostructures for the development of efficient and stable photoanode. The WO 3 /MXene heterostructure features well-ordered WO 3 photoactive sites anchored on micron-sized MXene sheets, providing an increased visible light active catalytic surface area and enhanced electrocatalytic activities for pollutant oxidation. Phenol, a highly toxic compound, was completely oxidized at an applied potential of 0.8 V vs. RHE under visible light irradiation. Systematic optimization of operational conditions for the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of phenol was conducted. The phenol oxidation mechanism was elucidated via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis and the identification of intermediate compounds. Additionally, a mixed model of phenol and arsenic (III) in polluted water demonstrated the capability of WO 3 /MXene photoanode for the simultaneous oxidation of both organic and inorganic pollutants, achieving complete conversion of phenol and As(III) to non-toxic As(V). The WO 3 /MXene photoanode facilitated water oxidation, generating a substantial amount of O 2 •- and • OH oxidative species, which are crucial for the concurrent oxidation of phenol and arsenic. Recyclability tests demonstrated a 99% retention of performance, confirming the WO 3 /MXene photoanode's suitability for long-term operation in PEAOPs. The findings suggest that integrating WO 3 /MXene photoanodes into water purification systems can enhance economic feasibility, reduce energy consumption, and improve efficiency. This PEAOP offers a viable solution to the critical issue of heavy metal and organic chemical pollution in various water bodies, given its scalability and ability to preserve ecosystems while conserving clean water resources., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The presence of antibiotics in water poses significant threats to both human health and the environment. Addressing this issue requires the effective treatment of medical wastewater. Photoelectrochemical advanced oxidation processes (PEAOPs) are emerging as promising solutions for wastewater treatment. This process utilizes photocatalysts to convert charge carriers into reactive species such as hydroxyl radicals and superoxide ions, which are essential for degrading pollutants in wastewater. However, limitations in charge carrier separation and transport have hindered the efficiency of photoelectrochemical advanced oxidation processes. To overcome these limitations, we designed WS 2 @CoFe 2 O 4 heterojunctions, optimizing their energy levels to enhance charge transport and separation. This improvement significantly increased the oxidation of antibiotics such as amoxicillin and azithromycin. Multiple reactions occurred at the WS 2 @CoFe 2 O 4 heterojunctions during photoelectrochemical advanced oxidation processes, leading to the impressive degradation of up to 99% of antibiotics under visible light irradiation at 0.8 V. Urea and H 2 O 2 acted as oxidation agents within photoelectrochemical advanced oxidation processes, amplifying the generation of hydroxyl radicals and superoxide ions, further enhancing antibiotic oxidation. Moreover, the WS 2 @CoFe 2 O 4 photoanode efficiently oxidized toxic antibiotics while converting As(III) into the less harmful As(V). Crucially, recyclability tests confirmed the robustness of the WS 2 @CoFe 2 O 4 photoanode, ensuring its suitability for prolonged use in photoelectrochemical advanced oxidation processes. Integrating WS 2 @CoFe 2 O 4 photoanodes into water purification systems can enhance efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and improve economic viability. This technology's scalability and its ability to protect ecosystems while conserving water resources make it a promising solution for addressing the critical issue of antibiotic pollution in water environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The discharge of amoxicillin (AMX) from pharmaceutical intermediates has adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. The elimination of AMX requires advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) that utilize high-performance photocatalysts. Furthermore, the design of highly visible light photocatalysts for AOPs demands both cost-effectiveness and efficiency. In this work, a plasmon-assisted visible light photocatalyst of 2D Ag-CoFe 2 O 4 nanohybrids was successfully synthesized and characterized with several analytical tools to degrade AMX in aqueous solutions through advanced AOPs. The results showed that the Ag-CoFe 2 O 4 nanohybrids had excellent photocatalytic activity and stability, which could efficiently reduce the AMX concentration by 99% within 70 min under visible light irradiation. In particular, CoFe 2 O 4 and Ag have an interfacial contact that prevents electron-hole pair recombination more effectively than pure CoFe 2 O 4 , which results in electrons in its conduction band (CB) migrating to metallic Ag sites. Thus, charge transfers between the two materials are more efficient, leading to higher photocatalytic oxidation of AMX. Furthermore, the surface plasmon of Ag nanoparticles are excited by their plasmonic resonance, which increases the absorption of visible light. The plasmon-assisted visible light photocatalyst could replace expensive and energy-intensive advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). AOPs pathways associated with AMX have been discussed in detail. The HPLC chromatogram clearly showed AMX was oxidized by four-membered B-lactam ring opening and hydroxylation with •OH. 2D Ag-CoFe 2 O 4 heterostructure was found to be efficient, selective, and cost-effective for the degradation of several pharmaceutical compounds. Additionally, it was found to be eco-friendly and sustainable, making it a viable alternative to AOPs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, photoelectrocatalysis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) has received considerable attention due to their potential to improve catalytic efficiency. Herein, ultra-small Au NPs were successfully synthesized in a single pot using olea europea leaf extract as a green reducing agent for the degradation of 4-nitrophenol. The TEM images showed uniform distribution and spherical shape of Au NPs with an average diameter of 5 nm. Taking advantage of the ability of Au nanoparticles to absorb visible and near-infrared light, 4-nitrophenol can be successfully reduced in the presence of NaBH 4 . Additionally, the electrochemical activity of the fabricated Au photocathode was investigated by linear sweep voltammetry in the dark and at VIS-NIR light irradiation. This showed an increased photocurrent density of 27 mA cm -2 with an onset potential of -0.71 V. This indicates that the Au photocathode is highly active at VIS-NIR light. Interestingly, the Au photocathode showed a higher current density of 37 mA cm -2 with an onset potential of -0.6 V in the presence of 4-nitrophenol during VIS-NIR irradiation, indicating that 4-nitrophenol was efficiently reduced by the photocathode. The Au photocathode completely reduced 4-nitrophenol in the wastewater within 35 min. Recyclability studies showed that the Au NPs photocathode exhibited higher stability over multiple cycles, confirming the ability of the electrode to treat wastewater over a longer period of time. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the photoelectrochemical (PEC) process in reducing organic compounds in wastewater., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Alarming rates of water contamination by toxic herbicides have prompted the need and attention for easy, efficient, and affordable treatment options with a touch of circular economy aspects. This study valorized date palm leaf (DPL) wastes into a valuable adsorbent for remediating agricultural wastewater polluted with 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-DPA) herbicide. The DPL precursor was modified with H 2 SO 4 treatment and both biomass samples were characterized by various analytical techniques. Acid treatment modified the morphology, thermal, and textural properties of the final product (TDPL) while maintaining the structure and surface chemistry intact. Simulated wastewaters containing 2,4-DPA were subsequently treated using TDPL as an adsorbent. Optimum adsorption conditions of pH 2, dosage 0.95 g/L, shaking speed 200 rpm, time 120 min, and temperature 30 °C showed a good herbicide removal efficiency in the range of 55.1-72.6% for different initial feed concentrations (50-250 mg/L). Experimental kinetic data were better represented by the pseudo-second-order model, while the Freundlich isotherm was reliable in describing the equilibrium behavior of the adsorption system. Further, the thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption occurred spontaneously, favorably, and exothermically. Plausible sorption mechanism involved electrostatic interactions, weak van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds, and π-π interactions between the participating phases. Conspicuously, TDPL application to real-world situations of treating actual herbicide-polluted agricultural runoff resulted in a 69.4% remediation efficiency. Thus, the study demonstrated the valorization of date palm leaves into a valuable and industry-ready adsorbent that can sequester toxic 2,4-DPA herbicide contaminant from aqueous streams., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Atorvastatin exhibits wide interindividual variability in treatment response, limiting the drug efficacy in coronary artery disease patients. Aim: To study the effect of genetic variants involved in atorvastatin transport/metabolism and correlate their lipid-lowering efficacy. Materials & methods: Genotyping was performed using 5'-hydrolysis probe method (n = 412), and the study evaluated the treatment response in 86 patients. Results: Significant reduction in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were observed in SLCO1B1 -rs4149056, rs4363657 and ABCB1 -rs1045642 genotypes. The combined genotypes of ABCB1 and SLCO1B1  showed a strong synergistic effect in reducing the total cholesterol and LDL-C. Diabetes and smoking were observed to influence the LDL-C reduction. Conclusion: The genetic variants of SLCO1B1 and ABCB1 predict the lipid-lowering efficacy of atorvastatin, and this may be useful in genotype-guided statin therapy for coronary artery disease patients.

The present work reports the study on the green synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoadsorbents using Peltophorum pterocarpum pod extract. HAP nanoadsorbents were characterized by using FESEM, EDS, TEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS, and BET analyses. The results highlighted the high purity, needle-like aggregations, and crystalline nature of the prepared HAP nanoadsorbents. The surface area was determined as 40.04 m 2 /g possessing mesopores that can be related to the high adsorption efficiency of the HAP for the removal of a toxic dye, - Acid Blue 113 (AB 113) from water. Central Composite Design (CCD) was used for optimizing the adsorption process, which yielded 94.59% removal efficiency at the optimum conditions (dose: 0.5 g/L, AB 113 dye concentration: 25 ppm, agitation speed: 173 rpm, and adsorption time: 120 min). The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model (R 2 :0.9996) and the equilibrium data fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm (R 2 :0.9924). The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption of AB 113 was a spontaneous and exothermic process. The highest adsorption capacity was determined as 153.85 mg/g, which suggested the promising role of green HAP nanoadsorbents in environmental remediation applications., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Dual-functional photo (electro)catalysis (PEC) is a key strategy for removing coexisting heavy metals and phenolic compounds from wastewater treatment systems. To design a PEC cell, it is crucial to use chemically stable and cost-effective bifunctional photocatalysts. The present study shows that ruthenium metallic nanoparticles decorated with CoFe 2 O 4 /RGO (Ru-CoFe 2 O 4 /RGO) are effective bifunctional photoelectrodes for the reduction of Cr(VI) ions. Ru-CoFe 2 O 4 /RGO achieves a maximum Cr(VI) reduction rate of 99% at 30 min under visible light irradiation, which is much higher than previously reported catalysts. Moreover, PEC Cr(VI) reduction rate is also tuned by adding varying concentration of phenol. A mechanism for the concurrent removal of Cr(VI) and phenol has been revealed over a bifunctional Ru-CoFe 2 O 4 /RGO catalyst. A number of key conclusions emerged from this study, demonstrating the dual role of phenol during Cr(VI) reduction by PEC. Anodic oxidation of phenol produces the enormous H + ion, which appears to be a key component of Cr(VI) reduction. Additionally, phenolic molecules serve as hole (h + ) scavengers that reduce e - /h + recombination, thus enhancing the reduction rate of Cr(VI). Therefore, the Ru-CoFe 2 O 4 /RGO photoelectrode exhibits a promising capability of reducing both heavy metals and phenolic compounds simultaneously in wastewater., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify the association between linc-ROR genetic variants and oral squamous cell carcinoma tumorigenesis., Design: Four genetic variants of linc-ROR (rs6420545, rs4801078, rs1942348, and rs9636089) were analyzed in 178 OSCCs and 191 controls of the South Indian population by PCR amplification followed by restriction digestion. In addition, we examined whether these variants alter linc-ROR expression levels and the progression of OSCC., Results: The frequency of linc-ROR rs6420545 and rs4801078 genotypes were significantly associated with advanced tumor grade (>2) (p = 0.002 and p = 0.048), and nodal metastasis (p = 0.001 and p = 0.019), respectively. We observed a significant association of rs6420545 specifically in the over-dominant model [OR 1.77 (95%CI; 1.17-2.68); p = 0.006] and rs9636089 in dominant model [OR 2.17 (95%CI; 1.06 - 4.46); p = 0.03], and allelic model [OR 2.26 (95%CI; 1.13 - 4.53) p = 0.02], respectively. Further, significant upregulation of linc-ROR (p = 0.005) was observed in our cohort, consistent with the HNSCC TCGA dataset (p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the linc-ROR genetic variants could contribute to the metastasis and progression mainly in the late event of tumorigenesis of OSCCs and these variants could be useful in the precision therapeutic management of this cancer particularly in prognosis., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the food quality and safety arena, there is a need to develop novel and sustainable methodologies that can help in the prevention of foodborne diseases. Herein, we report the development of a rapid conducting polymer strip-based sensor using Polyaniline-pectin (PANI-PEC) for the detection of Escherichia coli in milk and milk products. Polyaniline-pectin nanoparticles stabilized with biopolymer pectin were synthesized and its characterization studies such as FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, electrical conductivity and particle size analysis were done. The assay parameters were optimized for the selective detection of E. coli in milk and milk products. The concentration of PANI-PEC solution immobilized/strip was optimized to be 3 mg/mL as it exhibited good sensitivity and colour intensity. Based on acid production and selectivity for E.coli, concentrations of media components like lactose, tryptophan, yeast extract, chondroitin sulphate, sodium lauryl sulphate, potassium chloride, tergitol-7, gentamycin sulphate and ampicillin trihydrate were optimized as 0.9, 0.1, 0.45, 0.015, 0.1, 2, 0.0125, 0.00016 and 0.015 respectively and sample volume was optimized to 500 μL. The developed PANI-PEC colorimetric strip-based sensor detects 0 . 52  ±  0 . 17 log CFU/mL E. coli within 10: 21 h (h). Further shelf-life study revealed that the developed PANI-PEC colorimetric sensor strips are stable at room temperature up to six months exhibiting the same sensitivity. The results obtained here indicate that this novel and simple paper based colorimetric sensor holds potential for application in food industries as a reliable and rapid method for detection of E. coli in milk and milk products at various stages of production and processing., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Hydroxyapatite-decorated activated carbon (HAp/AC) nanocomposite was synthesized and utilized as a nanofiller to fabricate a novel type of polyethersulfone (PES) nanocomposite ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. Activated carbon (AC) derived from orange peel was synthesized by low-temperature pyrolysis at 400 °C. A hydroxyapatite/AC (HAp/AC) nanocomposite was developed by a simple one-pot hydrothermal synthesis method. The UF membrane was fabricated by intercalating HAp/AC fillers into PES casting solution by the non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) process. The prepared membranes exhibited a lower water contact angle than the pristine PES membrane. The hybrid membrane with 4 wt% HAp/AC nanocomposite displayed 4.6 times higher pure water flux (~660 L/m 2 h) than that of the pristine membrane (143 L/m 2 h). In static adsorption experiments, it was found that the amount of humic acid (HA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) adsorbed by the HAp/AC-PES hybrid membrane was much lower than that of the original membrane due to the electrostatic repulsive forces between them and the surface of the membrane. Irreversible fouling was reduced from 33 to 6 % for HA and from 46 to 8 % for BSA after HAp/AC was incorporated into the PES matrix. After 7 cycles of water-BSA-water, the HAp/AC-PES hybrid membrane maintained a high pure water flux of 540 L/m 2 h with an excellent flux recovery ratio (FRR), demonstrating the long-term stability of the membranes. The developed UF membranes outperformed the original PES membranes in terms of permeability, selectivity, and antifouling., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Wound healing is a multi-stage process that is dynamic, interactive, and complicated. However, many nanomaterials are employed to expedite wound healing by demonstrating antibacterial activity or boosting cell proliferation. But only one phase is focused during the wound healing process. As a result, there is a need for optimum wound dressing materials that promotes different wound healing cascades with ideal properties. Herein, Graphene Oxide loaded with vanadium (V) doped titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) blended with chitosan, and polyvinyl alcohol (CS/PVA/GO/TiO 2 -V) patch was developed for wound healing. XRD, FTIR and FE-SEM analyses were carried out to study the morphology and structural property of the patch. The fabricated patch has a high surface porosity, excellent moisture vapor transfer rate, appropriate swelling behaviour, and oxygen permeability, which results in an excellent moist environment for wound breathing and effective management of wound exudates. The antibacterial test showed significant antibacterial efficacy against wound infections in the presence of light when compared to dark. In-vitro analysis such as hemocompatibility, cytotoxicity, cell adhesion, and scratch assay show the predicted potential wound healing application with high biocompatibility. These results suggest that CS/PVA/GO/TiO 2 -V patch provides a microenvironment favourable to cells' growth and differentiation and positively modulates full-thickness wounds' healing., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Throughout history, mushrooms have occupied an inseparable part of the diet in many countries. Mushrooms are considered a rich source of phytonutrients such as polysaccharides, dietary fibers, and other micronutrients, in addition to various essential amino acids, which are building blocks of vital proteins. In general, mushrooms offer a wide range of health benefits with a large spectrum of pharmacological properties, including antidiabetic, antioxidative, antiviral, antibacterial, osteoprotective, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, etc. Both wild edible and medicinal mushrooms possess strong therapeutic and biological activities, which are evident from their in vivo and in vitro assays. The multifunctional activities of the mushroom extracts and the targeted potential of each of the compounds in the extracts have a broad range of applications, especially in the healing and repair of various organs and cells in humans. Owing to the presence of the aforementioned properties and rich phytocomposition, mushrooms are being used in the production of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. This review aims to provide a clear insight on the commercially cultivated, wild edible, and medicinal mushrooms with comprehensive information on their phytochemical constituents and properties as part of food and medicine for futuristic exploitation. Future outlook and prospective challenges associated with the cultivation and processing of these medicinal mushrooms as functional foods are also discussed.

Pyrolysis of agricultural biomass is a promising technique for producing renewable energy and effectively managing solid waste. In this study, groundnut shell (GNS) was processed at 500 °C in an inert gas atmosphere with a gas flow rate and a heating rate of 10 mL/min and 10 °C/min, respectively, in a custom-designed fluidized bed pyrolytic-reactor. Under optimal operating conditions, the GNS-derived pyrolytic-oil yield was 62.8 wt.%, with the corresponding biochar (19.5 wt.%) and biogas yields (17.7 wt.%). The GC-MS analysis of the GNS-based bio-oil confirmed the presence of (trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-amine (18.814%), 2-Fluoroformyl-3,3,4,4-tetrafluoro-1,2-oxazetidine (16.23%), 5,7-dimethyl-1H-Indazole (11.613%), N-methyl-N-nitropropan-2-amine (6.5%) and butyl piperidino sulfone (5.668%) as major components, which are used as building blocks in the biofuel, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Furthermore, a 2 × 5 × 1 artificial neural network (ANN) architecture was developed to predict the decomposition behavior of GNS at heating rates of 5, 10, and 20 °C/min, while the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were estimated using a non-isothermal model-free method. The Popescu method predicted activation energy (E a ) of GNS biomass ranging from 111 kJ/mol to 260 kJ/mol, with changes in enthalpy (ΔH), Gibbs-free energy (ΔG), and entropy (ΔS) ranging from 106 to 254 kJ/mol, 162-241 kJ/mol, and -0.0937 to 0.0598 kJ/mol/K, respectively. The extraction of high-quality precursors from GNS pyrolysis was demonstrated in this study, as well as the usefulness of the ANN technique for thermogravimetric analysis of biomass., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Alarming water contamination rates by toxic herbicides have drawn attention to treat these pollutants using efficient, easy, and economic techniques. In this work, date-palm coir (DPC) waste-based nano-activated carbon (DPC-AC) was successfully prepared and examined for adsorptive removal of toxic 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-DPA) herbicide from synthetic wastewater. The DPC-AC was synthesized via a single-step carbonization-KOH activation approach. The nanosorbent displayed a flaky morphology with graphitic structure and oxygen-rich surface functionalities. The nanocarbon with a mean particle size of 163 nm possessed a high specific surface area of 947 m 2 /g with an average pore size of 2.28 nm. High 2,4-DPA removal efficiency of 98.6% was obtained for the optimal adsorption conditions of pH 2, dosage 0.15 g, rotational speed 100 rpm, time 90 min, and initial 2,4-DPA concentration of 100 mg/L. Langmuir isotherm best described the equilibrium behavior with a theoretical maximum of 50.25 mg/g adsorption capacity for the system. Pseudo-second order model was more appropriate in quantifying the kinetics for all initial feed concentrations. Thermodynamically, the adsorption process was spontaneous, endothermic, and involved low activation energy. A plausible mechanism for the adsorption-desorption of 2,4-DPA onto DPC-AC is also discussed. Cost analysis and regenerability studies proved the economic value ($3/kg) and reusable nature of DPC-AC without any significant loss in its performance. Overall, this study highlights the advantages of DPC waste valorization into efficient nanoadsorbent and the sequestration of noxious 2,4-DPA herbicide from its aqueous streams using this nanosorbent., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Effective improvement of an easily recoverable photocatalyst is equally vital to its photocatalytic performance from a practical application view. The magnetically recoverable process is one of the easiest ways, provided the photocatalyst is magnetically strong enough to respond to an external magnetic field. Herein, we prepared graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet (g-C 3 N 4 ), and ZnS quantum dots (QDs) supported ferromagnetic CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) as the gC 3 N 4 /ZnS/CoFe 2 O 4 nanohybrid photocatalyst by a wet-impregnation method. The loading of CoFe 2 O 4 NPs in the g-C 3 N 4 /ZnS nanohybrid resulted in extended visible light absorption. The ferromagnetic g-C 3 N 4 /ZnS/CoFe 2 O 4 nanohybrid exhibited better visible-light-active photocatalytic performance (97.11%) against methylene blue (MB) dye, and it was easily separable from the aqueous solution by an external bar magnet. The g-C 3 N 4 /ZnS/CoFe 2 O 4 nanohybrid displayed excellent photostability and reusability after five consecutive cycles. The favourable band alignment and availability of a large number of active sites affected the better charge separation and enhanced photocatalytic response. The role of active species involved in the degradation of MB dye during photocatalyst by g-C 3 N 4 /ZnS/CoFe 2 O 4 nanohybrid was also investigated. Overall, this study provides a facile method for design eco-friendly and promising g-C 3 N 4 /ZnS/CoFe 2 O 4 nanohybrid photocatalyst as applicable in the eco-friendly dye degradation process., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Atrazine is a toxic herbicide whose alarming rate of contamination in the drinking water and wastewater poses a severe threat to the environment and human health. Here in this study, the graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were prepared using Hummers' method with minor modification and studied as a potential adsorbent for atrazine removal from simulated wastewater. The spectroscopy and microscopic analysis confirmed the successful formation of GO with a multilayer structure resembling the crumpled sheets with random stacking. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) employing Box Behnken design (BBD) was successfully developed to predict the optimal conditions for maximal atrazine removal as adsorbent dosage 121.45 mg/L; initial feed concentration 27.03 mg/L; temperature 27.69 °C, pH 5.37, and time 180 min. The atrazine adsorption onto GO was found to be higher in acidic pH and lower temperature. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation of adsorbent-adsorbate complex in the implicit solvent medium suggests adsorption affinity energy of -24.4 kcal/mol for atrazine. A careful observation of the molecules configuration and binding energy showed that the π-π interactions and hydrogen bonds played a significant role in the adsorption phenomena. Langmuir isotherm suited well to the adsorption process with a maximum adsorption capacity of 138.19 mg/g, at 318 K. The fitness of kinetic models for atrazine adsorption onto GO nanosheets were in following order Ho < Sobkowsk-Czerwi < Avrami model based on their correlation coefficient (R 2 ) values. Reusability analysis showed that GO nanosheets could be effectively recycled using 0.01 N NaOH up to six cycles of atrazine removal. Thus, this study provided a theoretical and experimental basis for the potential application of GO nanosheets as a novel adsorbent for the removal of hazardous atrazine., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The synergistic photoelectrochemical (PEC) technology is a robust process for the conversion of CO 2 into fuels. However, designing a highly efficient UV-visible driven photoelectrocatalyst is still challenging. Herein, a plasmonic Ag NPs modified TiO 2 /RGO photoelectrocatalyst (Ag-TiO 2 /RGO) has been designed for the PEC CO 2 reduction into selective production of CH 3 OH. HR-TEM analysis revealed that Ag and TiO 2 NPs with average sizes of 4 and 7 nm, respectively, were densely grown on the few-micron-sized 2D RGO nanosheets. The physicochemical analysis was used to determine the optical and textural properties of the Ag-TiO 2 /RGO nanohybrids. Under VU-Vis light illumination, Ag-TiO 2 /RGO photocathode possessed a current density of 23.5 mA cm -2 and a lower electrode resistance value of 125 Ω in CO 2 -saturated 1.0 M KOH-aqueous electrolyte solution. Catalytic studies showed that the Ag-TiO 2 /RGO photocathode possessed a remarkable PEC CO 2 reduction activity and selective production of CH 3 OH with a yield of 85 μmol L -1 cm -2 , the quantum efficiency of 20% and Faradic efficiency of 60.5% at onset potential of -0.7 V. A plausible PEC CO 2 reduction mechanism over Ag-TiO 2 /RGO photocathode is schematically demonstrated. The present work gives a new avenue to develop high-performance and stable photoelectrocatalyst for PEC CO 2 reduction towards sustainable liquid fuels production., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Electrochemical hydrogenation is a challenging technoeconomic process for sustainable liquid fuel production from biomass-derived compounds. In general, half-cell hydrogenation is paired with water oxidation to generate the low economic value of O 2 at the anode. Herein, a new strategy for the rational design of Ru/reduced graphene oxide (Ru/RGO) nanocomposites through a cost-effective and straightforward microwave irradiation technique is reported for the first time. The Ru nanoparticles with an average size of 3.5 nm are well anchored into the RGO frameworks with attractive nanostructures to enhance the furfural's paired electrohydrogenation (ECH) and electrooxidation (ECO) process to achieve high-grade biofuel. Furfural is used as a reactant with the paired electrolyzer to produce furfuryl alcohol and 2-methylfuran at the cathode side. Simultaneously, 2-furic acid and 5-hydroxyfuroic acid along with plenty of H + and e - are generated at the anode side. Most impressively, the paired electrolyzer induces an extraordinary ECH and ECO of furfural, with the desired production of 2-methylfuran (yield = 91% and faradic efficiency (FE) of 95%) at X FF = 97%, outperforming the ECH half-cell reaction. The mechanisms of the half-cell reaction and paired cell reaction are discussed. Exquisite control of the reaction parameters, optimized strategies, and the yield of individual products are demonstrated. These results show that the Ru/RuO nanocomposite is a potential candidate for biofuel production in industrial sectors.

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an evolving technology for eradicating salt and toxic heavy metal ions from brackish wastewater. However, traditional CDI electrodes have lower salt adsorption capacity and inadequate adsorption of selective metal ions for long-term operations. Herein, Ag nanospheres incorporated pomegranate peel-derived activated carbon (Ag/P-AC) was prepared and implied to the CDI process for removing NaCl, toxic mono-, di-, and trivalent metal ions. Morphological analysis revealed that the 80-100 nm-sized Ag nanospheres were uniformly decorated on the surfaces of P-AC nanosheets. The Ag/P-AC has a higher specific surface area (640 m 2  g -1 ), superior specific capacitance (180 F g -1 at 50 mV s -1 ) and a lower charge transfer resistance (0.5 Ω cm 2 ). CDI device was fabricated by Ag/P-AC as an anode, which adsorbed anions and P-AC as cathode for adsorption of positively charged ions at 1.2 V in an initial salt concentration of 1000 mg L -1 . An asymmetric Ag/P-AC//P-AC exhibited a maximum NaCl adsorption capacity of 36 mg g -1 than symmetric P-AC//P-AC electrodes (22.7 mg g -1 ). Furthermore, Pb(II), Cd(II), F - , and As(III) ions were successfully removed from simulated wastewater by using Ag/P-AC//P-AC based CDI system. These asymmetric CDI-electrodes have an excellent prospect for the removal of salt and toxic contaminants in industrial wastewater., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, substantial progress has been made towards developing effective catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO 2 into fuels. However, the quest for a robust catalyst with high activity and stability still remains challenging. In this study, we present a cost-effective catalyst composed of MoS 2 nanosheets and functionalized porous date seed-derived activated carbon (f-DSAC) for hydrogenation of CO 2 into formic acid (FA). As-fabricated MoS 2 /f-DSAC catalysts were characterized by FE-SEM, XRD, Raman, FT-IR, BET, and CO 2 -TPD analyses. At first, bicarbonate (HCO 3 - ) was successfully converted into FA with a high yield of 88% at 200 °C for 180 min under 10 bar H 2 atmosphere. A possible reaction pathway for the conversion of HCO 3 - into FA is postulated. The catalyst has demonstrated high activity and long-term stability over five consecutive cycles. Additionally, MoS 2 /f-DSAC catalyst was effectively used for the conversion of gaseous CO 2 into FA at 200 °C under 20 bar (CO 2 /H 2 = 1:1) over 15 h. The catalyst exhibited a remarkable TOF of 510 h -1 with very low activation energy of 12 kJ mol -1 , thus enhancing the catalytic conversion rate of CO 2 into FA. Thus, this work demonstrates the MoS 2 /f-DSAC nanohybrid system as an efficient non-noble catalyst for converting CO 2 into fuels., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Valorization of waste phytomass into valuable components provide new functionality to these biowastes and annul problems associated with their safe disposal. In this study, date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) coir (DPC) waste was tested for its toxic hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) ions biosorption. The DPC biosorbent was subjected to SEM, EDX, FTIR, TGA and N 2 adsorption/desorption characterization studies. Results showed that the cellulose-rich DPC surface contained mesopores with a wide number of functional groups and possessed suitable surface attributes for Cr(VI) ions sequestration. Batch biosorption tests established the Cr(VI) ions sequestration potential of the DPC biosorbent with a maximum chromium removal efficiency of 87.2% for a 100 ppm initial feed concentration at pH 2, dosage 0.3 g, temperature 30 °C, contact time 60 min and agitation speed 100 rpm. Langmuir isotherm fitted well (R 2  = 0.9955) with the experimental data while the kinetic analysis showed that Cr(VI) ions sequestration by DPC followed the pseudo-second order model. Biosorption thermodynamics revealed the exothermic nature and low-temperature preference for the effective binding of chromium ions on DPC. Regeneration of the biosorbent using NaOH wash showed a nearly steady Cr(VI) ions removal efficiency (with a loss <10%) by the DPC till four recycle runs. Economic analysis showed a very low production cost of $1.09/kg for the DPC biosorbent with a total cost of $4.36/m 3 for a scale-up batch process wastewater treatment plant. Thus, a low-cost, effectual and sustainable biosorbent for effective treatment of Cr(VI) ions polluted water streams has been reported., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To extend the use of polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration membranes in water process engineering, the membrane's wettability and anti-fouling properties should be further improved. In this context, hydroxyapatite/boron nitride (HAp/BN) nanocomposites have been prepared and intercalated into PES membranes using a non-solvent-induced phase separation process. High-quality 2D transparent boron nitride nanosheets (BN NSs) were prepared using an environmentally friendly and green-template assisted synthesis method in which 1D hexagonal hydroxyapatite nanosheets (HAp NRs) were uniformly distributed and hydrothermally immobilized at 180 °C. SEM, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy techniques were used to characterize the HAp/BN nanocomposites. PES membranes intercalated with various nanocomposite amounts (0-4 wt %) were also characterized by permeability, porosity, and contact angle measurements. Additional pathways for water molecule transport were promoted by the high surface area of the BN NSs, resulting in high permeability. Membrane wettability and antifouling properties were also improved by the inclusion of negative charge groups (OH - and PO 4 3- ) on HAp. Hybrid membranes containing 4 wt% HAp/BN showed the best overall performance with ∼97% increase in water flux, 90% rejection of bovine serum albumin (BSA), high water flux recovery ratio, low irreversible fouling, and high reversible fouling pattern. The intercalation of HAp/BN with the PES matrix therefore opens up a new direction to enhance the PES UF membranes' hydrophilicity, water flux, and antifouling capacity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The contamination of aquatic ecosystems by fluoride and heavy metal ions constitute an environmental hazard and has been proven to be harmful to human health. This study explores the feasibility of using asymmetric capacitive deionization (CDI) electrodes to remove such toxic ions from wastewater. An asymmetric CDI cell was fabricated using 2D Ni/MAX as an anode and 3D porous reduced graphene oxide (pRGO) as a cathode for the electrosorption of F - , Pb 2+ , and As(III) ions. A simple microwave process was used for the synthesis of Ni/MAX composite using fish sperm DNA (f-DNA) as a cross-linker between MAX nanosheets (NSs) and the metallic Ni nanoparticles (NPs). Further, pRGO anode was prepared through effective reduction of RGO using lemon juice as green reducing agent with the assist of f-DNA as a structure-directing agent for the formation of 3D network. With this tailored nanoarchitecture, pRGO and Ni/MAX electrodes exhibited a high specific capacitance of 760 and 385 F g -1 , respectively. The fabricated Ni/MAX and pRGO based CDI system demonstrated a high electrosorption capacity of 68, 76, and 51 mg g -1 for the monovalent F - , divalent Pb 2+ , and trivalent As(III) ions at 1.4 V in neutral pH. Furthermore, Ni/MAX//pRGO system was successfully applied for the removal of total F(T), Pb(T), and As(T) ions from real industrial wastewater and contaminated groundwater. The present findings indicate that the fabricated Ni/MAX//pRGO electrode has excellent electrochemical properties that can be exploited for the removal of anionic and cationic metal ions from aqueous solutions in a CDI based system., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Production of multi-functional zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) for wastewater treatment through green-approaches is a desirable alternative for conventional synthesis routes. Biomass waste valorization for nanoparticles synthesis has received increased research attention. The present study reports date pulp waste (DPW) utilization as an effective bio-reductant for green-synthesis of ZnO-NPs. A simple and eco-friendly process with low reaction time and calcination temperature was adopted for DPW mediated ZnO-NPs (DP-ZnO-NPs) synthesis. Microscopic investigations of DP-ZnO-NPs confirmed the non-agglomeration and spherical nature of particles with mean diameter of 30 nm. EDX and XPS analysis defined the chemical composition and product purity of DP-ZnO-NPs. UV and photoluminescence studies exhibited surface plasmonic resonance at 381 nm and fluorescent nature of DP-ZnO-NPs. FTIR studies established a formation mechanism outline for DP-ZnO-NPs. XRD and Raman investigations confirmed the crystalline and hexagonal wurtzite phase of DP-ZnO-NPs. DSC/TG analysis displayed the thermal stability of DP-ZnO-NPs with <10 wt% loss upto 700 °C. Photocatalytic degradation of hazardous methylene blue and eosin yellow dyes using DP-ZnO-NPs, showed rapid decomposition rate with 90 % degradation efficiency. Additionally, DP-ZnO-NPs demonstrated significant antibacterial effects on various pathogenic bacteria in terms of zone-of-inhibition measured by disc-diffusion method. Thus, the as-prepared DP-ZnO-NPs is suitable for industrial wastewater treatment., (Crown Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The Ace polymorphism had shown association with ACE activity, premature atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, LV dysfunction, LV remodelling, severity and extent of CAD and mortality after MI. Though ACE I/D polymorphism has been reported to be associated with various cardiovascular diseases it remained a controversial risk factor and studies have presented conflicting results. This study was designed to determine the association between ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism, ACE activity and acute STEMI in Indian population and to determine its influence on outcome after acute MI., Materials and Methods: We investigated 934 patients diagnosed with acute STEMI who underwent thrombolysis. ACE I/D polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction and ACE activity was measured in 615 patients., Results: The prevalence of DD, ID, and II genotypes in our study group were 41.97%, 34.36%, and 23.66% respectively. The ACE polymorphism was not significantly associated with the type of myocardial infarction, the LV ejection fraction, the number of vessels diseased and patency of the vessel after thrombolysis. The polymorphism had no influence on in hospital mortality (P = 0.453). The ACE activity also showed no influence on in hospital mortality (P = 0.482). The age > 60 years, Male gender, occluded artery and severe LV dysfunction (LVEF < 35%) were predictors of in-hospital mortality on multivariate regression analysis., Conclusion: There was no differences among ACE (I/D) polymorphism observed in STEMI population. Neither ACE I/D polymorphism nor ACE activity predicted in-hospital mortality inpatients admitted with acute STEMI., (© 2020 The Authors.)

This study highlights biohydrogen production enrichment through NiO and CoO nanoparticles (NPs) inclusion to dark fermentation of rice mill wastewater using Clostridium beijerinckii DSM 791. NiO (~26 nm) and CoO (~50 nm) NPs were intrinsically prepared via facile hydrothermal method with polyhedral morphology and high purity. Dosage dependency studies revealed the maximum biohydrogen production characteristics for 1.5 mg/L concentration of both NPs. Biohydrogen yield was improved by 2.09 and 1.9 folds higher for optimum dosage of NiO and CoO respectively, compared to control run without NPs. Co-metabolites analysis confirmed the biohydrogen production through acetate and butyrate pathways. Maximum COD reduction efficiencies of 77.6% and 69.5% were observed for NiO and CoO inclusions respectively, which were higher than control run (57.5%). Gompertz kinetic model fitted well with experimental data of NPs assisted fermentation. Thus, NiO and CoO inclusions to wastewater fermentation seems to be a promising technique for augmented biohydrogen production., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: None

In this study, magnetic/graphene/chitosan nanocomposite (MGCH) is prepared through facile solvothermal process and employed as an adsorbent for the removal of 2-naphthol from aqueous solution. The physico-chemical characteristic results of FESEM, Raman, FTIR, XRD and VSM confirms that the MGCH nanocomposite is effectively prepared. The FESEM and EDS analysis reveals that the high density of spherical-like Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles and chitosan are successfully assembled on the surfaces of the graphene sheets. VSM result of MGCH composite exhibited higher saturation magnetization of 46.5 emu g -1 and lower coercivity (H c ) of 50 O e . This result discloses that MGCH possesses enough response required for the separation from aqueous solution. The batch mode adsorption studies demonstrates that MGCH based adsorbent showed almost 99.8% adsorption of 2-naphthol with a maximum adsorption capacity of 169.49 mg g -1 at pH 2. Moreover, the kinetic studies of the samples are performed by fitting adsorption models to ensure the nature of the adsorption system. This work proves that MGCH nanocomposite can be used as high-performance adsorbent for removing of phenolic pollutants from contaminated wastewater., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/objectives: Acute liver failure (ALF) is rare and associated with poor outcomes. The outcomes of ALF and predictors of outcome may vary as per the etiology. There are limited data on the predictors of spontaneous survival among patients with ALF of non-A-E hepatitis or cryptogenic etiology. We aimed to assess clinical course, complications, and outcome of non-A-E etiology ALF., Methods: In this prospective analysis, all consecutive ALF patients (n = 1555; January 1986-June 2018) were analyzed. Non-A-E-ALF was defined as ALF that could not be attributed to known etiologies such as drugs, viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and Wilson's disease. Clinical course, complications, and outcomes of non-A-E-ALF patients who did not undergo liver transplantation were analyzed. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated., Results: Non-A-E-ALF constituted 34.6% (n = 538) of all ALF patients, whereas hepatitis E virus (HEV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) accounted for 29.5% (n = 459), 8.6% (n = 134), and 7.4% (n = 115), respectively. Among non-A-E-ALF patients, mean age was 28.8 ± 12.0 years, 50.9% females, majority (63.1%) had hyperacute presentation, and 79.2% had advanced encephalopathy at presentation. The frequency of cerebral edema in non-A-E-ALF (53.3%) was higher than that in HEV-ALF (41.2%) and ATT-ALF (44.2%), P < 0.001. The survival rate in non-A-E-ALF (37.5%) was poorer than HEV-ALF (54.9%) and was comparable to that in HBV (35.8%) and ATT (29.6%) induced ALF. The baseline prothrombin time prolongation (odds ratio [OR] 1.041; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.017-1.065) and infection (OR 2.366; 95%CI, 1.107-5.055) were independent predictors of outcome in non-A-E-ALF. The 3-days acute liver failure early dynamic model had the best value in predicting the outcome., Conclusions: Non-A-E-ALF accounts for one-third of all cases of ALF and is associated with poor spontaneous survival., Competing Interests: The authors have none to declare, (© 2020 Indian National Association for Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Biosorption ability of date palm empty fruit bunch (DPEFB) was examined for the removal of toxic hexavalent chromium (Cr 6+ ) ions from synthetic wastewater. The pretreated DPEFB biosorbent was studied for its morphology and surface chemistry through Scanning electron microscopy, Energy dispersive elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Effect of biosorption parameters such as pH, biosorbent dosage, contact time, temperature, initial feed concentration and agitation speed on the Cr 6+ ions removal efficiency by DPEFB was critically evaluated. The isoelectric point for the DPEFB sorbent was observed at pH 2, above which it was dehydronated to capture the positively charged Cr 6+ ions. Batch biosorption studies showed that an optimal chromium removal efficiency of 58.02% was recorded by the DPEFB biosorbent for pH 2, dosage 0.3 g, 100 rpm agitation speed, 120 min contact time, 50 mg/L initial feed concentration and 30 °C operational temperature. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the binding of Cr 6+ ions on DPEFB surface was exothermic, stable and favorable at room temperature. Equilibrium behavior of chromium binding on DPEFB was more aligned to Temkin isotherm (R 2  = 0.9852) highlighting the indirect interactions between Cr 6+ ions and the biosorbent. Kinetic modeling revealed that the biosorption of Cr 6+ ions by DPEFB obeyed pseudo-second order model than the pseudo-first order and intra-particle diffusion models. Reusability studies of the DPEFB sorbent showed that NaNO 3 was an effective regenerant and the biosorbent can be efficiently reused up to three successive biosorption-desorption cycles for chromium removal. In summary, the results clearly showed that the DPEFB biowaste seems to be an efficient, economic and eco-friendly biosorbent for sustainable removal of toxic hexavalent chromium ions from domestic and industrial wastewater streams., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors of the submitted manuscript declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Wound healing is a common issue in our day to day life. Our immune system repairs the damaged tissue by itself and its a time-consuming process. The GO/CuO nanocomposite (NC) was synthesized through the sol-gel method. XRD, FT-IR, Raman, and TEM analysis were used to analysis the physico-chemical properties of the sample. The GO/CuO patches were prepared using chitosan (Cs)/poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) due to its biocompatibility and biodegradable nature. The obtained patches showed better antimicrobial and wound healing property than recently reported materials. The GO/CuO NC plays a major part in angiogenesis process and in the synthesis, stabilization of extracellular matrix skin proteins. Thus, GO/CuO NC enhance the wound healing mechanism by increasing cell proliferation, antimicrobial property and rapid initiation of inflammatory. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of CuO, GO, GO/CuO and GO/CuO patch were tested against bacteria causing wound infections. Cs/PVA patch and Cs/PVA/GO/CuO patch were analyzed for swelling, evaporation and degradation behavior. Increase in cell viability and migration of NIH3t3 cells by NC patch shows a potential way for wound healing applications., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction Gingival overgrowth is usually an inflammatory response to plaque present on tooth surfaces. The other causes could be drugs and other systemic conditions. When the local factors are responsible and subgingival scaling does not help, gingivectomy is performed. The gingivectomy wound is raw and heals slowly. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT), hyaluronic acid, and herbal gels aid in healing after a gingivectomy. This study compared the efficacy of LLLT, hyaluronic acid, and herbal gel when used topically after a gingivectomy. This was a single-arm, interventional trial wherein 30 patients aged between 18 and 40 years with moderate gingival overgrowth participated. The study was approved by the institutional ethical committee. (DN/0109-16). The participants signed the consent form and the study was also registered (NCT03569683). Materials and methods The samples were equally divided into three groups. Group A received LLLT immediately postop, and on the first, third, and seventh days after surgery. Group B received hyaluronic acid (Gengigel) while Group C received an herbal gel (Hiora SG) for the same time periods after surgery, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a post-hoc Bonferroni test was used to evaluate differences within groups. Intergroup comparison was performed using the independent t-test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and gingival enlargement index (GEI) showed good improvement postoperatively within the groups, which was statistically significant. However, on an intergroup comparison, the GEI pertaining only to the laser group showed significant changes. Also, the pain perception analyzed by the visual analog score (VAS) was the least, and histologically, the amount of mature collagen fibers laid down were more in the laser group. Conclusion Patients irradiated with laser after gingivectomy (Group A) showed superior results in the clinical, histological variables as compared to Groups B and C., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2019, Reddy et al.)

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is one of the most efficient and emerging techniques for the removal of toxic metal ions from aqueous solutions. In this study, mesoporous peanut shell derived activated carbon (PSAC) was prepared by low temperature pyrolysis at 500 °C. Subsequently, a novel iron oxide/PSAC (Fe 3 O 4 /PSAC) nanocomposite adsorbent was prepared via facile one-pot hydrothermal synthesis method at 180 °C. Nucleation growth mechanism and appropriate characterizations of prepared nanocomposites were investigated. The obtained Fe 3 O 4 /PSAC possessed a highly mesoporous structure, and a large specific surface area (680 m 2 /g). The electrochemical analysis showed that the obtained Fe 3 O 4 /PSAC nanocomposites exhibited higher capacitance (610 F/g at 10 mV/s), good stability and low internal resistance. A batch mode adsorption and CDI based Cr(VI) removal studies were conducted. Effects of solution pH and cycle time on Cr(VI) electrosorption capacity were further investigated. The Fe 3 O 4 /PSAC based electrodes exhibit a maximum electrosorption capacity of 24.5 mg/g at 1.2 V, which was remarkably larger than other reported materials. The fabricated composite displayed higher electrosorption capacity with rapid time and a favorable reduction of Cr (VI) to Cr(III). Studies indicated that the Fe 3 O 4 /PSAC based CDI electrode possesses a good potential to be applied for the removal of toxic metal ions from wastewater., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with an unknown etiology that can be life threatening. This study aimed to study the cause of mortality among admitted SLE patients over a period of 5 years at a teaching hospital in India., Methods: A 5-year retrospective analysis of mortality in SLE patients admitted under department of medicine of our institute was done. The presenting complaints, treatment history, clinical parameters, laboratory investigations, organ involvement, systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI), and cause of mortality were collected from the medical records on a predesigned proforma. A further analysis of two groups based on the cause of mortality was done., Results: In total, 53 death records were analyzed. Mortality in 28 SLE patients was due to high disease activity (Group I) and mortality in 25 patients was attributed due to both high disease activity and concomitant infection (Group II). Most of the patients were female (98%) and mean age of patient was 30.6 years. About 19 patients (35.8%) were diagnosed with SLE during hospital admission. Fever was the most common presenting complaint (69.8%) and lupus nephritis was the most common organ dysfunction seen (84.9%). Myocarditis was observed in 11 patients and 9 patients had cerebrovascular accident. The mean hemoglobin was lower in Group II (7.4 vs. 8.7 g/dL, P = 0.02). The median total leukocyte count was significantly higher in Group II (10,200 vs. 6600, P = 0.02). The mean serum urea and creatinine levels were also significantly higher in Group II (141.41 vs. 87.8 mg/dL, P = 0.006 and 4.7 vs. 1.7, P = 0.0001), respectively. The mean SLEDAI in Group I was 20.8 ± 8.9 and in Group II was17.7 ± 7.5. Bacterial pneumonia (17) was the most common infection, followed by tuberculosis (2) and fungal infection (2)., Conclusion: Mortality among SLE patients could be due to disease flare or concomitant infection. Lung is the most common organ affected by infection in these patients., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Health hazards associated with usage of plastic films for food preservation demands for development of active films from non-toxic and antioxidant rich bio-sources. The reported work highlights the development, characterization and application studies of chitosan films enhanced for their antioxidant activity by mango leaf extract (MLE) incorporation. Effect of MLE variation (1-5%) on the morphology, optical nature, water exposure and mechanical characteristics of the chitosan-MLE composite films was studied. Increase in the MLE concentration resulted in films with increased thickness and decreased moisture content. Contact angle, water solubility and vapor permeability analysis demonstrated the reduced hydrophilicity and water vapor penetrability of the films due to MLE inclusion. MLE films possessed better tensile strength (maximum of 23.06 ± 0.19 MPa) with reduced elongation ratio than the pure chitosan film (18.14 ± 0.72 MPa). Antioxidants assessment in terms of total phenolic content, DPPH radical scavenging, ferric reducing power and ABTS radical scavenging showed improved antioxidant activity with the incremental amounts of MLE in the chitosan films. Microscopic studies revealed the smooth, compact and dense nature of the MLE-chitosan films favouring low oxygen transport rates. Application studies to cashew nuts preservation for 28 days storage indicated 56% higher oxidation resistance for the 5% MLE film than a commercial polyamide/polyethylene film. Results highlight the potential and promising nature of MLE impregnated chitosan films as suitable alternative for active packaging films for food preservation., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Prosthetic Valve Thrombosis (PVT), in spite of the advances in the valve design and the material used, remains a serious complication of mechanical cardiac valve replacement. The factors influencing the development of PVT are: thrombogenicity of the valve, hemodynamics of the transprosthetic blood flow and ineffective anticoagulation. Genetic polymorphism of the genes VKORC1 (-1639 G > A and 1173 C > T), CYP2C9 (*2 & *3 alleles) and CYP4F2 (1347 G > A) are known to influence the anticoagulant dose-effect response. Since there has not been any earlier study on the direct influence of gene polymorphism on the development of PVT, we investigated into this association.Genotyping for the genes VKORC1, CYP2C9 and CYP4F2 was carried out by conventional PCR-RFLP method for 91 consecutive PVT patients. Subjects of our earlier study served as controls (n = 136).Female patients and patients with smaller prosthetic valve size were more prone to developing PVT (68%, n = 62). Patients bearing A allele of CYP4F2 1347 G > A polymorphism exhibited a fivefold increased risk of PVT (OR = 5.022 (1.39-18.04), P = .013). G allele of VKORC1 when analyzed in combination of genotypes showed a fourteen fold increased risk for developing PVT (OR = 14.25 (5.52-36.77), P = 0.001). CYP2C9 (*2&*3) gene polymorphism did not show any significant association with PVT (OR = 1.54 (0.128 - 18.82), P = .731).Patients bearing A allele of CYP4F2 showed an increased risk of developing PVT in our case - control study.

In this present study, we report the synthesis of Au nanodots on α-Fe 2 O 3 @reduced graphene oxide (RGO) based hetero-photocatalytic nanohybrids through a chlorophyll mediated photochemical synthesis. In this process, chlorophyll induces a rapid reduction (30 min) of Au 3+ ions to Au° metallic nanodots on α-Fe 2 O 3 @RGO surface under sunlight irradiation. The nucleation growth process, photo-induced electron-transfer mechanism and physico-chemical properties of the Au@α-Fe 2 O 3 @RGO ternary nanocomposites were systematically studied with various analytical techniques. This novel photochemical synthesis process is a cost-effective, convenient, surfactant-less, and scalable method. Moreover, the prepared ternary nanocomposites enhanced catalytic activity as compared to pure α-Fe 2 O 3 and α-Fe 2 O 3 @RGO. The advantages and synergistic effect of Au@α-Fe 2 O 3 @RGO exhibit, (i) a broader range of visible-light absorption due to visible light band gap of α-Fe 2 O 3 , (ii) lower recombination possibility of photo-generated electrons and holes due to effect of Au and (iii) faster electron transfer due to higher conductivity of RGO. Therefore, the prepared Au@α-Fe 2 O 3 @RGO hetero-photocatalytic nanohybrids exhibited a remarkable photocatalytic activity, thus enabling potential active hetero-photocatalyst for industrial and environmental applications.

Dunaliella salina is a photosynthetic cell factory used for the commercial production of food additives, cattle stock feed and cosmetics as well as active ingredients for pharmaceutical industries. The investigation of the in vivo antitumor activity of D. salina lyophilized powder (DSLP) against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced mammary carcinogenesis in female Wistar rats indicated a dose-dependent effect of DSLP. We studied the effect of DSLP at two different dosages of 500 and 1000 mg per kg bw on DMBA induced mammary cancer in rats by measuring the status of antioxidant enzymes, phase I and phase II detoxification enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and glycoconjugated proteins and by investigating the expression pattern of cell proliferation (Ki-67), hormonal receptor (ER, PR and HER2) status by immunohistochemical analysis, and apoptotic (caspase-3 and -9) and pro-inflammatory (COX-2) markers by colorimetric analysis. After 16 weeks of the study, we observed 100% tumor formation (including high tumor incidence and tumor volume) and a significant increase in the level of hormonal receptors, cell proliferation, and pro-inflammatory and apoptosis markers in tumor-bearing animals compared to the control. The oral administration of DSLP (1000 mg per kg bw) to the DMBA treated animals showed up to 83.4% reduction of tumors and effectively restored the levels of biochemical markers in the mammary tissues in addition to the downregulation of the expression of molecular markers. In conclusion, DSLP was found to show a chemopreventive effect against breast cancer induced in rats through the suppression of cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis.

Cancer has been established as the "Emperor of all maladies". In recent years, medicinal chemistry has focused on identifying novel anti-cancer compounds; though discovery of these compounds appears to be a herculean task. In present study, we synthesized forty pyrazolochalcone conjugates and explored their cytotoxic activity against a panel of sixty cancer cell lines. Fifteen conjugates of the series showed excellent growth inhibition (13b-e, 13h-j, 14c-d, 15 a, 15 c-d, 16b, 16d and 18f; GI 50 for MCF-7: 0.4-20 μM). Conjugates 13b, 13c, 13d, 16b and 14d were also evaluated for their cytotoxic activity in human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The promising candidates induced cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial membrane depolarization and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells at a 2 μM concentration. Furthermore, inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway-regulators such as PI3K, p-PI3K, p-AKT, and mTOR were observed; as well as upregulation of p-GSK3β and tumor-suppressor protein, PTEN. Our study indicates that pyrazolochalcone conjugates could serve as potential leads in the development of tailored cancer therapeutics., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aim: Chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD) patients who undergo valve replacement with mechanical valves require lifelong anticoagulation. Acenocoumarol, a vitamin K antagonist has a narrow therapeutic range and wide inter-individual variability. Our aim was to investigate the influence of polymorphisms of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 genes on the mean daily dose requirement of acenocoumarol., Methods: 205 chronic RHD patients, with mechanical heart valves and on acenocoumarol therapy, were recruited. Genotyping for VKORC1 (-1639G>A and 1173C>T) and CYP2C9 (*2 & *3 alleles) polymorphisms was done by PCR-RFLP. There was complete linkage disequilibrium between VKORC1 polymorphisms (r 2 = 0.98, D' = 1.0, LOD = 74.02). VKORC1 genotype distribution for GG/CC, GA/CT, and AA/TT were 57.6%, 36.1%, and 6.3%, respectively. CYP2C9 genotype distribution for *1/*1, *1/*3, *1/*2, *2/*2, and *2/*3 were 78.5%, 14.1%, 6.3%, 0.5%, and 0.5%, respectively. Patients with a wild type of both VKORC1 (-1639GG and 1173CC) and CYP2C9 gene variants required higher acenocoumarol dose compared to those with mutant genotype ( P = 0.023 and P = 0.008 respectively). On combined genotype analysis, patients having a combination of wild type of VKORC1 with wild type of CYP2C9 (44.4%) required higher daily dose compared to patients bearing heterozygous VKORC1 (-1639GA & 1173CT) with wild type of CYP2C9 (30.2%, P = 0.008)., Conclusion: Presence of a mutant allele of VKORC1 (-1639A & 1173T) and CYP2C9 genes increased the odds of requiring a lower mean dosage of acenocoumarol. Studying the combination of genotypes in RHD patients could predict acenocoumarol dose requirement more accurately.

Several 2-anilino-3-aroylquinolines were designed, synthesized, and screened for their cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines: HeLa, DU-145, A549, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-7. Their IC50 values ranged from 0.77 to 23.6 μm. Among the series, compounds 7 f [(4-fluorophenyl)(2-((4-fluorophenyl)amino)quinolin-3-yl)methanone] and 7 g [(4-chlorophenyl)(2-((4-fluorophenyl)amino)quinolin-3-yl)methanone] showed remarkable antiproliferative activity against human lung cancer and prostate cancer cell lines. The IC50 values for inhibiting tubulin polymerization were 2.24 and 2.10 μm for compounds 7 f and 7 g, respectively, and were much lower than that of the reference compound E7010 [N-(2-(4-hydroxyphenylamino)pyridin-3-yl)-4-methoxybenzenesulfonamide]. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis revealed that these compounds arrest the cell cycle at the G2 /M phase, leading to apoptosis. Apoptosis was also confirmed by mitochondrial membrane potential, Annexin V-FITC assay, and intracellular ROS generation. Immunohistochemistry, western blot, and tubulin polymerization assays showed that these compounds disrupt tubulin polymerization. Molecular docking studies revealed that these compounds bind efficiently to β-tubulin at the colchicine binding site., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A series of novel 1,2,3-triazole/isoxazole functionalized pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives 6a-c, 7a-h and 8a-e were prepared in series of synthetic steps. All the compounds screened for the anticancer activity against four human cancer cell lines using Nocodazole as standard. Compounds 7d and 7h showed highest activity against PANC-1 (pancreatic cancer) and A549 (lung cancer) cell lines respectively and more than standard. All the compounds also screened for antibacterial activity using Rifampicin and Ciprofloxacin as standards and identified promising compounds further evaluated for minimum inhibitory concentration to validate the data., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A series of phenstatin/isocombretastatin-oxindole conjugates was synthesized and tested for their cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cells such as prostate (DU-145), lung (A549), colon (HT-29), breast (MCF-7), liver (HepG2) cancer cells with IC50 values ranging from 0.049 to 38.90 μM. Amongst them, two conjugates (5c and 5d) showed broad spectrum of antiproliferative efficacy on lung cancer cells with an IC50 value of 79 nM and 93 nM, respectively, whereas on colon cancer cells with an IC50 values 45 nM and 49 nM, respectively. In addition, cell cycle assay revealed that these conjugates (5c and 5d) arrest at the G2/M phase and leads to apoptotic cell death which was confirmed by Annexin V-FITC and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Further, the tubulin polymerization assay analysis results suggest that these conjugates particularly 5c and 5d exhibit significant inhibitory effect on the tubulin assembly with an IC50 value of 1.23 μM and 1.01 μM, respectively. Molecular docking studies indicated that these compounds (5c and 5d) occupy the colchicine binding site of the tubulin., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

A new class of combretastatin linked 1,3,4-oxadiazoles were designed, synthesized and screened for their cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines such as HeLa, DU-145, A549, MDA-MB-231 and B16. These compounds showed significant cytotoxicity with IC50 values in the range 0.118-54.32μM. Conjugate 5m displayed potent antiproliferative activity against DU-145 cell line. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that these compounds arrested the cell cycle in G2/M phase. Moreover, the tubulin polymerization assay and immunofluorescence analysis indicate that 5m exhibits potent inhibitory effect on the tubulin assembly. Further, DNA fragmentation and Hoecst staining assays confirm that 5m induces apoptosis. Molecular docking studies and competitive binding assay indicated that 5m effectively bind at the colchicine binding site of the tubulin., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)