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The growing interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD) has led to the need for effective and reliable delivery methods that overcome its low oral absorption. Zeolites, a class of porous nanoparticles, offer unique advantages as drug carriers due to their high surface area and adjustable pore size. In this study, a zeolite-based drug delivery system was developed for the encapsulation of CBD. The zeolite particles were characterized using various techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), N2 adsorption analysis, Solid-state Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Direct Light Scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) before and after the loading. The drug encapsulation efficiency, and the release profile of CBD from the zeolite matrix were evaluated in addition to in vitro dissolution experiments in the intestinal and gastric simulated fluids. The results showed that the loaded zeolite particles exhibited high encapsulation efficiency of 73.5 %. XRD analysis proved that the USY structure remained intact after loading with CBD. DLS and N2 adsorption analysis indicated that CBD was successfully loaded into the zeolite matrix. When compared to CBD containing particles in a commercialized capsule, the in-vitro dissolution rate of CBD loaded zeolite was significantly higher after 30 min in the simulated stomach (pH 1.8) and the intestinal (pH 6.8) fluids, 67.8 % versus 43.6 % and 62.6 % vs 38.4 % respectively. Our findings open new avenues for the use of zeolites as an efficient drug delivery system for drugs with low bioavailability like CBD.

Limonia acidissima Groff, commonly referred to as the Wood apple, is a tropical fruit belonging to Rutaceae family. Indigenous to Sri Lanka, India, and Myanmar, it is extensively cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. This fruit holds a profound historical significance in traditional medicine due to its exceptional nutritional and therapeutic attributes. Wood apple pulp is significantly abundant in β-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, and contains a substantial amount of vitamin B, including riboflavin and thiamine, as well as trace amounts of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Moreover health-benefitting properties associated with L. acidissima, such as, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spermatogenic, analgesic, antiulcer, and antihyperlipidemic properties, are attributed to a diverse range of phytochemicals. These encompass polyphenolic compounds, saponins, phytosterols, tannins, triterpenoids, coumarins, amino acids, tyramine derivatives, and vitamins. From the findings of the various studies, it was observed that wood apple fruit shows significant anticancer activity by inhibiting the proliferation of cancer. Furthermore, wood apple finds wide-ranging commercial applications in the formulation of ready-to-serve beverages, syrups, jellies, chutneys, and various other food products. In summary, this review highlights the nutritional and phytochemical constituents of wood apple, depicts its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic capabilities, and explores its potential in value-added product development. Nevertheless, it is crucial to acknowledge that the molecular mechanisms supporting these properties remain an underexplored domain. To ensure the safe integration of wood apple fruit into the realms of the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors, rigorous clinical trials, including toxicity assessments, are required. These endeavors hold the potential to promote innovation and contribute significantly to both research and industrial sectors.

Interpreting geophysical data requires solving nonlinear optimization problem(s) in inversion. Analytical methods such as least-square have some intrinsic limitations, which include slow convergence and dimensionality, making heuristic-based swarm intelligence a better alternative. Large-scale nonlinear optimization problems in inversion can be solved effectively using a technique within the swarm intelligence family called Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). This study evaluates the inversion of geoelectrical resistivity data with global particle swarm optimization (GPSO). We attempted to invert field vertical electrical sounding data for a multi-layered 1-D earth model using the developed particle swarm optimization algorithm. The result of the PSO-interpreted VES data was compared with that of the least square inversion result from Winresist 1.0. According to the PSO-interpreted VES results, satisfactory solutions may be attained with a swarm of 200 or fewer particles, and convergence can be reached in fewer than 100 iterations. The GPSO inversion approach has a maximum capacity of 100 iterations, more than the least square inversion algorithm of the Winresist, which has a maximum capacity of 30 iterations. The misfit error of GPSO inversion is 6.14×10−7, much lower than that of the least square inversion of 4.0. The GPSO inversion model has lower and upper limit values of the geoelectric layer parameters model to fit the true model better. The limitations of the developed PSO inversion scheme include a slower execution time of the inversion procedures than the least-square inversion. There is a need for a priori knowledge of the number of layers from borehole reports in the study area. The PSO inversion scheme, however, estimates inverted models closer to the true solutions with greater accuracy than the least-square inversion scheme.

Truffle, the hypogeous, ascomycetous macrofungus, has been recognized as a delicacy for centuries, and it is gaining elevated status in the culinary domain. The chemical composition and biological activities of aqueous extract and ground material of two desert Tunisian Tirmania nivea and Terfezia boudieri were studied for the first time. Using three assays antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract and ground material of the two truffles were investigated. Indeed, the aqueous extract and ground material of Terfezia boudieri showed the highest capacity for the DPPH scavenging test (IC50 = 0.18 mg/mL) and with regard to the chelating power of iron (IC50 = 0.22 mg/mL). At the same time, the highest capacity for iron reduction was recorded in the crude material of Tirmania nivea. Besides, the total phenolic, flavonoid, flavanol, tannin, and proanthocyanidin contents of both truffles extracts were determined. The ground material showed the best antibacterial activity for two ascomycetes against seven strains of bacteria. HPLC analysis of aqueous extracts showed that the predominant phenolic compounds in T. boudieri and T. nivea were gallic acid (33.25%) and myricetin (52.91%). Therefore, these truffles are a source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents and could be used as a potential health food.

Numerical modeling analysis was used to assess the suitable electrical resistivity arrays for the characterization of geological structures, including dyke, horst, graben, sub-vertical, and vertical structures. These geological structures usually make up the aquifers interested in the hydrogeological evaluation of crystalline basement terrains. Six electrode configurations, including Wenner alpha (α), Wenner beta (β), Wenner gamma (γ), Schlumberger array, dipole-dipole array, and pole-dipole array, were used to assess the geological structures for groundwater exploration. The synthetic models of the geological structures were generated using RES2DMOD code, and 5% noise was added to all the models. The generated models were inverted using the RES2DINV code. The results show that the most suitable arrays for dyke and graben structures are Wenner alpha, while Wenner beta is the most suitable for the horst structure. The Schlumberger array was the best for both sub-vertical and vertical structures. This study has demonstrated the efficacy of numerical modeling in assessing the best resistivity arrays for 2D electrical resistivity imaging for groundwater exploration prior to geophysical field investigation.

This study investigates the performance of soil and OMW microfloras in OMW organic matter humification in soil. In order to highlight the role of OMW and soil microfloras in the processes of OMW organic matter humification, either OMW or soil was sterilized with autoclaving. The study was carried out in microcosms of 1l containing 500 g of raw or sterilized soil, to which was added 200 ml of raw or sterilized OMW. After 24 months of incubation, the amount of phenolic compounds in the different microcosms was statistically indifferent compared to the control. However, TG-DTA and FTIR analysis of soil humic acids showed that recalcitrant OMW phenolic compounds remain in soil humus in the microcosm: sterilized OMW + raw soil, even after 24 months. Results show that humic acids detected in presence of OMW microflora are loaded with proteins and carbonated compounds and deprived of phenolic compounds and aliphatics with long chain, while humic acids detected in absence of OMW microflora are loaded with phenolic compounds.

This study presents an eco-friendly approach for constructing superhydrophobic (S.H.) coatings on steel surfaces. The biо Сu nanoparticles are synthesized using a biоgenic process. Two types of coatings, Ni-Ѕ.Α and Ni-biо Сu-Ѕ.Α, were developed and characterized. The EDX results confirm the successful fabrication of two distinct coatings on the steel substrate: one involving the modification of nickel with stearic acid, Ni-Ѕ.Α, and the other involving the modification of nickel with both bio-Cu and stearic acid, Ni-biо Сu-Ѕ.Α. The SEM results revealed that the S.H. coats exhibit circular microstructures which contribute to the surface roughness. The contact angles of water droplets on the Ni-Ѕ.Α and Ni-biо Сu-Ѕ.Α coatings were measured at 158° ± 0.9° and 162° ± 1.1°, respectively. Chemical stability tests demonstrated that the Ni-Ѕ.Α coating maintains its S.H. behaviour in a pH range of 3-11, whereas the Ni-biо Сu-Ѕ.Α coating exhibits excellent chemical stability in a broader range of pH (1-13). The coating's mechanical stability was evaluated through abrasion tests. The Ni-Ѕ.Α coating retained its S.H. properties even after an abrasion length equal 1100 mm, while the Ni-biо Сu-Ѕ.Α coating maintained its S.H. behaviour till an abrasion length equal 1900 mm. The corrosion behavior and protective properties of the S.H. coatings were studied via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) techniques. The PDP and EIS findings demonstrated that both Ni-Ѕ.Α and Ni-biо Сu-Ѕ.Α coatings significantly reduced the corrosion rate compared to uncoated steel., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:This research was supported by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting project number (PNURSP2024R316), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.", (© 2024 The Authors.)

Parabolic trough collectors (P.T.Cs) are efficient solar energy harvesting devices utilized in various industries, for instance, space heating, solar cooling, solar drying, pasteurization, sterilization, electricity generation, process heat, solar cooking, and many other applications. However, their usage is limited as the high capital and operating costs; according to the International Renewable Energy Agency's 2020 report, the global weighted average levelized cost of electricity (L.C.O.E) for P.T.Cs was 0.185 $/kWh in 2018. This work analyses the economic, technical, and environmental potential of sustainable energy to increase the use of P.T.Cs in different sectors. To study how self-weight, heat loss, and wind velocity affect P.T.C performance, prototype testing, and wind flow analysis were used. Although P.T.Cs outperform in capacity factor, gross-to-net conversion, and annual energy production, improving their overall efficiency is crucial in reducing total energy production costs. Wire coils, discs, and twisted tape-type inserts can enhance their performance by increasing turbulence and heat transfer area. Improving the system's overall efficiency by enhancing the functioning and operation of individual components will also help decrease total energy production costs. The aim is to minimize the L.C.O.E associated with a P.T.C in order to enhance its economic viability for an extended period. When the nanofluid-oriented P.T.C was included in the conventional P.T.C workings, there was a decrease in the L.C.O.E by 1%. Of all the technologies available, ocean, geothermal, and C.S.P parabolic trough plants generate lower amounts of waste and harmful gases, with average emissions of 2.39%, 2.23%, and 2.16%, respectively, throughout their lifespan. For solar-only and non-hybrid thermal energy storage plants, the range of greenhouse gas emissions is between 20 and 34 kgCO 2 equivalents per megawatt-hour. Coal, natural gas steam turbines, nuclear power plants, bioenergy, solar PV, geothermal, concentrated solar power, hydropower reservoir, hydropower river, ocean, and wind power plants all release greenhouse gases at rates of 1022, 587.5, 110.5, 633, 111, 48, 41, 82.5, 7.5, 12.5, and 41.5 gCO 2 -e/kWh, respectively. This information is useful to compare the environmental effect of various energy sources and help us to choose cleaner, more sustainable options for the production of electricity. The ongoing advancements and future scope of P.T.Cs could potentially make them more economically viable for domestic, commercial, and industrial applications., 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., (© 2023 The Authors.)