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Bleeding is common in patients with haematological malignancies undergoing intensive therapy. We aimed to assess the effect of tranexamic acid on preventing bleeding and the need for platelet transfusions.

The present study involves understanding the fretting wear behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V alloy produced by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) under annealed and anodized conditions. The as-built microstructure consists of martensite (α′), which, on subtransus annealing at 850 °C, produces a α + β lamellar structure. The anodized surface forms flaky-like titanium oxide, enhancing the surface's hardness and morphology. Fretting tests were conducted on annealed and anodised samples using specially customized fretting curved contact on a flat surface to simulate the femoral trunnion junction. The as-built alloy exhibited the lowest coefficient of friction (COF), which increased slightly after heat treatment. Anodizing the as-built and heat-treated samples reduced the COF by ∼4.5 %, resulting in a reduction of the wear coefficient by ∼37%. The drop in COF is reflected in wear loss and its operating mechanisms. Adhesive wear was identified as the predominant wear mechanism, independent of the material conditions. The results indicate that anodizing effectively improves the wear resistance of LPBF Ti-6Al-4V alloy in both as-built and heat-treated conditions, as evidenced by a lower coefficient of friction, reduced wear loss, and a lower wear coefficient. The wear resistance ranking is as follows: (annealed + anodized) > (as-built + anodized) > (as-built) > (annealed). The subtransus annealing at 850 °C of LPBF Ti-6Al-4V alloy followed by anodizing is highly recommended for improved wear properties.

In the context of the Internet of Things (IoT), wireless sensor networks (WSNs) play a significant role by collecting and analyzing real-time data on consumer behavior, product availability, and other environmental factors, thus enhancing e-commerce operations. Researchers in the domain of consumer electronics are working actively to increase the sustainability of WSNs and decrease their ecological footprint by developing energy-efficient algorithms, data compression techniques, and sensor designs. These advancements are directed toward optimizing energy consumption and minimizing environmental consequences while ensuring the smooth functionality of IoT applications. Organizations are emphasizing the need for collaboration between designers, business organizations, developers, and regulatory authorities to implement eco-friendly industrial laws to enhance the effectiveness of the e-commerce industry. Decision-making in the e-commerce sector is complicated by information overload, subjectivity of preferences, trust issues, product variety, lack of personalized assistance, return and exchange concerns, dynamic pricing and discounts, limited sensory experience, and complex decision-making processes. To address these challenges, an entropy-based multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) approach is proposed to assist personalization in e-commerce and improve user interfaces, recommendation systems, product information transparency, and consumer trust. The utilization of the MCDM technique facilitates the customization of electronic commerce platforms, whereby affordable products can be identified and retrieved according to individual user preferences. The study investigates the impact of electronic gadgets and energy-efficient WSNs on inventory management, customer preferences, and online shopping sustainability, highlighting the intricate relationship between data privacy, energy efficiency, and governance. The proposed method is compared to other state-of-the-art methodologies and shown to be effective under various criteria.

Organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1 and OATP1B3 are important hepatic transporters. We previously identified OATP1B3 being critically implicated in the disposition of abiraterone. We aimed to further investigate the effects of abiraterone on the activities of OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 utilizing a validated endogenous biomarker coproporphyrin I (CP-I). We used OATP1B-transfected cells to characterize the inhibitory potential of abiraterone against OATP1B-mediated uptake of CP-I. Inhibition constant (Ki) was incorporated into our physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling to simulate the systemic exposures of CP-I among cancer populations receiving either our model-informed 500 mg or clinically approved 1000 mg abiraterone acetate (AA) dosage. Simulated data were compared with clinical CP-I concentrations determined among our nine metastatic prostate cancer patients receiving 500 mg AA treatment. Abiraterone inhibited OATP1B3-mediated, but not OATP1B1-mediated, uptake of CP-I in vitro, with an estimated Kiof 3.93 μM. Baseline CP-I concentrations were simulated to be 0.81 ± 0.26 ng/ml and determined to be 0.72 ± 0.16 ng/ml among metastatic prostate cancer patients, both of which were higher than those observed for healthy subjects. PBPK simulations revealed an absence of OATP1B3-mediated interaction between abiraterone and CP-I. Our clinical observations confirmed that CP-I concentrations remained comparable to baseline levels up to 12 weeks post 500 mg AA treatment. Using CP-I as an endogenous biomarker, we identified the inhibition of abiraterone on OATP1B3 but not OATP1B1 in vitro, which was predicted and observed to be clinically insignificant. We concluded that the interaction risk between AA and substrates of OATP1Bs is low.

ABSTRACTAimThe study aimed to examine the association of two selected candidate SNPs rs2242480 (CYP3A4) and rs1045642 (ABCB1) with metabolic ratio of plasma norfentanyl to fentanyl concentrations in patients undergoing major breast surgeries.MethodsThe retrospective cross-sectional study was done in 257 female patients. DNA extraction, genotyping of selected SNPs, and drug levels measurement were employed.ResultsA total of 257 female patients were recruited with no loss to follow up. There was no significant association between the two mentioned SNPs and the metabolic ratio (pvalue > 0.05). As an exploratory analysis, there was a moderately significant negative correlation between metabolic ratio and pupillary constriction to fentanyl (r = –0.27; p < 0.001). There was also a weak but significant positive correlation between metabolic ratio and time for first analgesia in the postoperative period (r = 0.17; p = 0.01).ConclusionThere was no significant association with the selected candidate SNPs in CYP3A4and ABCB1 genesand metabolic ratio of norfentanyl to fentanyl in South Indian patients undergoing major breast surgery.

AbstractTo transform the industry practices for addressing the evolving challenges/opportunities in the near-future circumstances, the construction education/training sector of many developing countries feels the requirement for new features in the job roles of construction engineers and project managers. This study aims to design a new training guide for the continuous professional development of engineers and project managers on performance and productivity improvement practices in construction. Based on identified efficacious tools/models/systems through literature review, an exhaustive functional mechanism was laid, which was the key to developing the training elements through a sequence of processes, including interviews/meetings/discussions/reviews with industry and academic experts. The developed training guide describes all the required elements of training, especially training aims/outcomes/contents/delivery/assessments/weights/etc. The validation of the proposed training guide was ensured through expert reviews and feedback. The study has constructed a new bridge that connects industrial and institutional practices for the implementation of constructive approaches and operative systems/practices towards the economic recovery, social development and sustainability of a nation. Though the study findings are limited to the construction field in a developing country like Sri Lanka, the study outcomes may contribute to other engineering fields as well as to other developing industry sectors within a similar scope.

Herein, a straightforward facile synthesis of indolo[2,3-c]quinoline analogues was reported from 2-arylamino(phenylsulfonyl)methylindoles involving PIDA/BF3·OEt2-mediated intramolecular dehydrogenative coupling (IDC) as a key step. Even though isomeric 3-arylamino(phenylsulfonyl)methylindoles, upon interaction with PIDA/BF3·OEt2, led to complications, synthesis of the indolo[3,2-c]quinoline framework could be easily achieved from N-(2-iodoaryl)-N-indolylmethylbenzenesulfonamide by employing a Pd(0)-mediated intramolecular cyclization reaction. Under identical conditions, synthesis of indolo[2,3-c]quinolines was also accomplished from the respective N-(2-iodoaryl)-N-indolylmethylbenzenesulfonamides. The SRB assay of fluorine-bound indoloquinolines displayed nanomolar-level cytotoxicity against a nonsmall lung cancer cell line, NCI-H460.

Social vulnerability assessment is a dynamic process, which varies from place to place. In the present study, the social vulnerability index (SVI) of Malda district has been prepared because of several impacts of flood inundation. The flood inundation layer has been generated using multi-temporal remote sensing data. The flood inundation layer is prepared from real-time Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. For social vulnerability assessment, the most efficient indicators are household composition, age & sex composition, and underprivileged population (SC& ST). Economic and educational data has been collected from the Census of India Handbook 2011. All these data are combined with the district's village database on the GIS platform. The weightage overlay analysis method is applied to generate the social vulnerability index of the study area, where the multi-influencing factor (MIF) technique has been used for determining the influencing factors. The social vulnerability index has categories into Very High (4%), High (37%), Moderate (32%) and Low (27%). The social vulnerability index is being further intersected with the flood inundation layer to build a database for the most vulnerable area of this district. It has been observed that 70 villages are in Very High zones, 662 villages are in High, 578 villages are in Moderate and 479 villages are in Low zones. This study will help the disaster manager and stakeholders about the vulnerable situation of the study area and also depict the importance of geospatial techniques in disaster management.

Background Neurological soft signs (NSSs), minor physical anomalies (MPAs), and oculomotor abnormalities were plausible biomarkers in bipolar disorder (BD). However, specific impairments in these markers in patients after the first episode mania (FEM), in comparison with first-degree relatives (high risk [HR]) of BD and healthy subjects (health control [HC]) are sparse.Aim of the study This study aimed at examining NSSs, MPAs, and oculomotor abnormalities in remitted adult subjects following FEM and HR subjects in comparison with matched healthy controls. Investigated when taken together, could serve as composite endophenotype for BD.Methods NSSs, MPAs, and oculomotor abnormalities were evaluated in FEM (n = 31), HR (n = 31), and HC (n = 30) subjects, matched for age (years) (p = 0.44) and sex (p = 0.70) using neurological evaluation scale, Waldrop's physical anomaly scale and eye tracking (SPEM) and antisaccades (AS) paradigms, respectively.Results Significant differences were found between groups on NSSs, MPAs, and oculomotor parameters. Abnormalities are higher in FEM subjects compared to HR and HC subjects. Using linear discriminant analysis, all 3 markers combined accurately classified 72% of the original 82 subjects (79·2% BD, 56·70% HR, and 82·1% HC subjects).Conclusions AS and SPEM could enhance the utility of NSSs, and MPAs as markers for BD. The presence of these abnormalities in FEM suggests their role in understanding the etiopathogenesis of BD in patients who are in the early course of illness. These have the potential to be composite endophenotypes and have further utility in early identification in BD.

Purpose: A rise in productivity is associated with higher profits, competitiveness and the sustainability of an industry and a nation. Recent studies highlight inadequate labour supervision and training facilities as the main causes of productivity-related challenges among construction enterprises. This study aims to evaluate the construction supervisors' capabilities in applying the required elements of work practices for enhancing the performance and productivity of construction operations using a case study. Design/methodology/approach: A new construction supervisory training programme was developed through comprehensive sequential processes, and 64 construction supervisors underwent training . Marking guides with different levels of descriptions/standards were developed through consultations with experts and literature reviews, and the supervisors' capabilities were assessed under 64 competency elements of 12 competency units. Findings: The findings show a clear cross-section of all the required competencies of construction supervisors with various levels of standards/descriptions, leading to a new generalised guideline that helps to comprehend what degrees of skills can be taken into account in supervision attributes. Statistical tests and expert reviews were used to ensure the generalisability of the research applications and the reliability of the results. Research limitations/implications: Despite the study findings being limited to the Sri Lankan construction industry, its applicability could create considerable impacts on the current/future practices of the construction sector in developing countries as well as other developing industries. Practical implications: The study adds new characteristics and values to construction supervision practices that can be remarkable in encouraging construction supervision to drive the sustainability of construction practices. The study findings are significant in decision-making/planning procedures related to technical comprehension, industry training, scientific documentation, adherence to workforce employment constraints and job outputs. This paper describes the further extensive implications and future scopes of the study elaborately. Originality/value: This study addresses the knowledge gap in the industry related to the development of protocols and application methodologies necessary to track their performance. The study opens a new window that inflows knowledge attributes to the industry sector along with the necessary comparison of the relevant competency elements to predict/comprehend what levels of capabilities can be theoretically considered and practically applied in supervision characteristics.

This essay tries to look at the way in which Kālidāsa approaches towns in his three kāvyas: Meghadūta, Kumārasaṁbhava and Raghuvaṁśa. Most of the descriptions are stereotypical, using stock phrases and formulaic expressions, some of them straight from texts like the Arthaśāstra. However, there is one city that is described somewhat realistically—Ayodhya, which was deserted following Rāma’s departure. Both these—the stereotypes of prosperous towns and the realism of a decayed town—fit into the pattern of ‘urban decay’ presented by historians on the basis of archaeological evidence, a landmark in Indian historiography.

Herman Tieken, The Asoka Inscriptions: Analysing a Corpus(Delhi: Primus Books), 2023, xvi + 488 pp., ₹1,595 (Hb).

Gallium nitride (GaN) that is additively manufactured from a liquid gallium precursor allows for the possibility of manufacturing high-performance semiconducting materials with complex device geometries. However, mitigation of impurities such as carbon and oxygen in the final GaN film is crucial to manufacturing functional films with these methods. In this work, two methods of mitigating native gallium oxide in the liquid gallium precursor were employed and evaluated: (1) “wet” etching of the precursor in solution before GaN growth and (2) “dry” etching of the precursor during the growth using a reducing carrier gas. The carbon impurity content of films grown by using this method was also studied. Data obtained via scanning electron microscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and hot probe electrical characterization indicated that both etch methods were linked to a significant reduction in oxygen content in the resulting GaN film. Photoluminescence data further indicated that the gas-phase reactive additive manufacturing process is linked to a reduction in luminescent defects in the resulting film as compared to commercial GaN grown via chemical vapor deposition.

The emergence of Internet of Things enabled with mobile computing has the applications in the field of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) development. The development of mobile edge computational offloading in UAV is dependent on low latency applications such as disaster management, Forest fire control and remote operations. The task completion efficiency is improved by means of using edge intelligence algorithm and the optimal offloading policy is constructed on the application of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) in order to fulfill the target demand and to ease the transmission delay. The joint optimization curtails the weighted sum of average energy consumption and execution delay. This edge intelligence algorithm combined with DRL network exploits computing operation to increase the probability that at least one of the tracking and data transmission is usable. The proposed joint optimization significantly performs well in terms of execution delay, offloading cost and effective convergence over the prevailing methodologies proposed for UAV development. The proposed DRL enables the UAV to real-time decisions based on the disaster scenario and computing resources availability.

AbstractPoor training procedures have been a substantial impact on the efficiency and productivity of workers in the construction industry of many countries. By using structured work-based training methods, this study aims to assess the effectiveness and productivity of general workers in structural work practices during building construction. A training model was developed through a comprehensive literature review and a series of expert discussions. The model was applied to hundreds of general workers engaged in seven building projects through effective supervision practices within a systematic framework. The quantitative values in the results show the variations in worker productivity and performance, which have further led to efficient methods of rewarding workers. The results also produced a new roadmap with proactive approaches to resource leveling and productivity benchmarking practices in construction operations. The study adds new characteristics and values to supervision practices towards strengthening the chain relationships among the training components, worker performance and productivity. Despite being limited to the structural practices of building projects and the Sri Lankan context, the study findings will have a significant impact on the current practices of numerous industry sectors in many developing nations.

Scientists are working together for developing therapeutic agents to cure or delay burdensome diseases. Medicinal herbs are used from immemorial times in therapeutics. Most traditional medicines are cost-effective and eco-friendly. In the current study, the assessment of anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metal chelating activity of a methanolic extract is obtained from the stem of Cissus vitiginea. The UV–Vis spectra and FTIR analysis showed that the extract encloses the presences of phytochemicals such as polyphenols (flavonoids, tannins), alkaloids, and terpenoids. The phytochemicals present in the extract were confirmed using GC–MS analysis, with the compound structure, name, and molecular weight. The assessment on the antimicrobial activity indicated that the extract is more effective against Gram-negative than against Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, it exhibits substantial antioxidant, metal chelating, anticancer activity, and anti-inflammatory. The percentage of DPPH inhibition for an extract is 91.28% for a concentration of 100 µg/mL. Furthermore, the antioxidant effect was concentration-dependent and might be induced by the polyphenols contained in Cissus vitiginea. The maximum cell viability assessed using the MTT assay was 82.54% for a methanolic stem extract with 25 µg/mL of extract concentration. Overall, the methanolic extract obtained from the stem of Cissus vitigineais a rich source for natural phytochemicals and the efficacy can be useful in preventing and treating various diseases.

An intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction of positionally isomeric indole-2/3-phenylvinyl-N-alkynylated (N-phenylsulfonyl)amines has been successfully exploited for the synthesis of quino[4,3-b]carbazole and its analogues. This reaction proceeds through a [4 + 2] cycloaddition followed by elimination and deprotection of phenylsulfonyl units to afford the quinocarbazoles in moderate to good yields. The reaction features a broad substrate scope and remarkable functional group forbearance. A preliminary in vitrocytotoxicity evaluation of representative quino[4,3-b]carbazoles was performed against NCI-H460 human cancer cell culture. Among the quino[4,3-b]carbazoles evaluated, five of the fluorine-containing quinocarbazoles displayed nano molar range (0.8–2.0 nm) GI50values. The UV–vis and fluorescence spectral studies of representative quinocarbazoles were also performed. Like ellipticine, four of the quinocarbazoles displayed dual emissions confirming the existence of p-quinonoid like tautomeric forms in a polar protic solvent.

Sanitation workers are pivotal in sustaining public health and environmental hygiene but face numerous challenges, such as exposure to hazardous environments, inefficient routing, and variable environmental conditions. Traditional approaches to these challenges lack the precision and flexibility needed to guarantee safety and improve operational efficiency. With rising urbanization and industrial activities, addressing these issues is increasingly urgent. This study proposes a novel methodology that harnesses AI and remote sensing technologies to enhance the safety and efficiency of sanitation workers. Utilizing a hybrid model that combines advanced feature extraction via Cascade ShuffleNet with a sophisticated Ensembled AlexNet and SVM classification strategy (EA-SVM), this approach leverages data from satellite imagery, drone sensors, and terrestrial sensors to form an exhaustive environmental overview. The EA-SVM model achieves a remarkable accuracy of 97.54%, substantially surpassing conventional deep learning models. This approach not only enhances risk prediction and mitigation for sanitation workers but also optimizes their routing and overall operational effectiveness.

M-payments or mobile payments are fast becoming the norm since they minimise the need for traditional currency in a variety of everyday situations. Seldom have bibliometric studies been conducted in mobile payments research. The aim of this research is to examine the current level of research on M-payment systems. This research targets to provide a comprehensive review of the research on smartphone payments. This study investigates both scholarly articles and open-access studies. The articles published between 2010 and 2022 were selected using the Scopus database. During the first search, 2,400 papers were located, however only 662 were included in the research. The bibliometric analysis is conducted using the Biblioshiny R-studio. Throughout history, there has been a rising tendency in the rate of publishing. India, USA, and China are three major benefactors. Extensive study on mobile payments, mobile payments, financial inclusion, FinTech, and mobile money has been conducted. This examination of mobile payments, mobile payment, FinTech, mobile money, and mobile banking address knowledge gaps, organises essential themes, adds to the current literature, and sets the way for future scholars.

Modern developments in financial technology (FinTech) contribute to the sustainability of a community. The term 'FinTech' refers to an expansive industry that encompasses everything from data protection to the deliverance of financial services, enabling businesses to optimise their operations and develop innovative new products. As a result, field specialists are in high demand because more people rely on them to predict the subject's future development. This study aims to be the first comprehensive examination of FinTech research. In this investigation, open access research is also assessed. The articles were selected from Web of Science (WOS) between 2016 and 2022. The initial search resulted in 3,033 publications, but only 889 were considered for the study. Bibliometric analysis is performed using Biblioshiny R Studio. Throughout the course of history, there has been an upward trend in the rate of publication. This will result in significant benefits for China, the USA, and the UK. Numerous studies have focused on the Chinese economy, banking system, financial services, and financial technology. The objectives of this investigation into adoption, impact, returns, and risk are to address information gaps, organise essential topics, contribute to the existing literature, and set the foundation for future research.

Media streaming is the key innovation in technology era brings high quality on-demand and live media content to the consumer on-the-go anywhere, any time. Achieving best quality-of-service and quality-of-experience (QoE) are major concerns in the current circumstances due to increasing network usage and user demand to high quality media content. Conventional streaming approaches face numerous challenges in delivering media content to the uses without degradation of quality. An adaptive HTTP streaming is emerging content delivery approach which provides real time content delivery without compromising quality and ensuring superlative QoE. The dynamic and robust bit rate selection based on the network and client key performance indices helps to achieve best class of service to the consumer. As many standards and processes emerge in the field of Adaptive HTTP Streaming, it is necessary to study and compare the performance of different approaches based on the defined metrics. In this paper, we emphasis on the comprehensive study of different emerging adaptive streaming models such as HTTP Live Streaming, Microsoft Smooth Streaming and MPEG Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH). The experiments were conducted using Gstreamer adaptive HTTP streaming client to measure delivery performance of the approaches under varying network conditions for on-demand streaming and live streaming contents. The outcome for adaptive HTTP methods were measured and analyzed using defined performance indices. The analyzed data indicates that each delivery method performs well with respect to outlined metrics. However, overall DASH gives considerably stable performance across different network settings than other streaming approaches.

Change is the permanent reality of the digital business world. Firms manage it by their ability and capability to cope with short-term and long-term deviations and disruptions. This article presents an examination of the supply chain resilience (SCR) of firms operating in the Malaysian Service Sector. The data for this article were collected from 157 managers of 59 firms operating in 7 subservice sectors. Following organizational information processing theory and reviewing the relevant literature for the conceptualization, we tested a framework that suggests that the use of real-time information (URTI) enhances SCR. We also found that the industrial digital environment has an important link with the URTI. The results indicate that the URTI is significantly associated with SCR and operational agility, which partially mediates the relationship between the URTI and SCR. We further discuss the theoretical, practical, and policy implications arising from this research.

Two phase flow commonly occur in nature and in designed systems. The recent micro reaction-based technologies employed in laboratory on chip systems, micro propulsion devices, drug delivery systems require multi-phase fluid mixing in confined spaces of the order of micron size. Mixing index of the highest order is expected to be achieved in small channels. Limited experimental studies are available for real time measurement of void fraction and liquid film thickness which play a vital role during mixing of multiphase flow in mini/micro channels. In the present work an attempt has been made to reconstruct a two-dimensional Taylor bubble in real time. The cross-sectional void and liquid film thickness are deduced from the signal generated using a LASER-Photo resistor and the online reconstruction includes measurement of the interface velocity. A numerical model is developed to understand interaction of signals with two phase regimes and to estimate average liquid film thickness based on the experimental current signal.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has a high incidence and fatality rate worldwide. It ranks second concerning death worldwide. Cancer patients are diagnosed with the disease at a later stage due to the absence of early diagnostic methods, which leads to increased death. With the help of recent advancements in the fields of diagnosis and therapy, the development of novel methods using new targets could be helpful for the long-term survival of CRC patients when CRC is detected early. However, the prognosis for the advanced stage of CRC is abysmal. New biomarkers are emerging as promising alternatives since they can be utilized for early detection of CRC, are simple to use, and non-invasive. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been seen to have an aberrant expression in the development of many malignancies, including CRC. In the past two decades, much research has been done on non-coding RNAs, which may be valuable as biomarkers and targets for antitumor therapy. Non-coding RNAs can be employed in detecting and treating CRC. Non-coding RNAs play an essential role in regulating gene expression. This article reviews ncRNAs and their expression levels in CRC patients that could be used as potential biomarkers. Various ncRNAs have been associated with CRC, such as microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs, etc. The expression of these non-coding RNAs may provide insights into the stages of cancer and the prognosis of cancer patients and therefore proper precautionary measures can be taken to decrease cancer-related deaths.

In the scenario of rising multidrug resistance and allied diseases, antimicrobial peptides can be a considerable alternative for conventional antibiotics due to their broad spectrum activity and ability to bypass common resistance mechanisms. Histone derived antimicrobial peptides are found to have antibacterial, antifungal as well as anticancer properties. Here we have investigated a histone derived peptide sequence from blue swimmer crab, Portunus pelagicusfor its general and immunological properties. The Pp-H2A histone derived peptide is an 8.5 kDa peptide with helical conformation on a coiled backbone. Analysis of its physicochemical characteristics such as hydrophobicity, stability and cationicity revealed its suitability as a potential drug candidate possessing antimicrobial function. According to various prediction servers, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-biofilm and anticancer properties could be attributed to the molecule. The study shall serve to strengthen the theoretical framework before proceeding for a time consuming and costly antimicrobial analysis of the molecule.

AbstractHuman nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (hNNMT) is a cytosolic enzyme associated in the phase-II metabolism, belonging to the S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferases family. Overexpression of hNNMT was observed in diseases such as metabolic disorders and different types of cancers, which suggest NNMT as a prospective therapeutic target. In this study we propose a structure-based pharmacophore model to understand the structural features responsible for the pharmacological activity. The generated model was validated using the ROC curve (AUC), goodness of hit score (GH), specificity, sensitivity and enrichment factor (EF). The pharmacophore was employed to retrieve active molecules from the ZINC database, followed by virtual-screening and molecular docking. Six molecules with the best pharmfit score, binding energy and ADMET properties were identified in this study. A 150 ns molecular dynamics simulation was performed on the selected molecules complexed with hNNMT protein to validate the results. The molecules ZINC35464499, ZINC13311192, ZINC31159282, ZINC14650833, ZINC14819515 and ZINC00303881 were identified, which could be act as the potential hNNMT inhibitors and can also be used as direct hits for developing novel hNNMT antagonists.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Purpose: Construction professionals are the major contributors to developing a sustainable construction industry, whereas architects, engineers and quantity surveyors are the key construction professionals who must play extraordinary roles in achieving better sustainable construction. Therefore, this study aims to identify the job attributes of key Sri Lankan construction professionals in addressing challenges associated with climate change. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a mixed research approach. A literature review and preliminary semi-structured interviews were used to appraise the job roles of architects, engineers and quantity surveyors in addressing challenges associated with climate change. The data collected through the qualitative approach were used in an online questionnaire survey, and the findings were analysed using the relative index method. Findings: The findings highlight that regardless of the knowledge of the professional category on green rating tools, carbon footprint, adaptation of renewable energies for the reduction of energy consumption, building information modelling-related applications and waste management concepts/practices are the foremost job attributes required for the key Sri Lankan construction professionals in addressing challenges associated with climate change. Research limitations/implications: The results from this study provide a handful of guidance to construction industry professionals, national and international professional institutions, non-governmental organisations and other relevant authorities to address climate change within the built environment by identifying ways for improving the relevant key job attributes of construction industry professionals. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that explores the job attributes of key Sri Lankan construction professionals in addressing the challenges associated with climate change.

The usage of manufactured nanoparticles has grown over the past few decades in a variety of fields, including biomedicine, diagnostics, and environmental remediation, raising serious public concerns. Due to their numerous features, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have attracted the most attention among these nanoparticles in the fields of medicine, pharmacology, drug delivery systems, molecular imaging, and biosensing. It is essential to note that whilst the systems’ sizes are getting smaller due to the manufacturing of magnetic nanoparticles, the methods used to interpret their properties—bottom-up for the latter and top-down for the former—remain distinct. Here, we emphasise the necessity for a shared perspective whilst outlining the current state of the two domains and offering some predictions for potential future advancements. The review study discusses the use of MNPs in biomedicine, explains how they interact with living things, and assesses their toxicity. Also, clarify biocompatibility and add more information about the drug delivery system, such as targeted drug delivery. A thorough explanation of how MRI and the MNP work together is provided. Particular MNP applications were demonstrated using MRI, CT, and bioimaging. This would allow us to examine drug transport, tumour interaction, and toxicity. Additionally, difficulties with nanoparticles have been discussed, including stability, environmental toxicity, and safety measures. This review attempts to present a comprehensive summary of the state of current knowledge in magnetic nanoparticle research.

A straightforward metal-free oxa-Michael cascade [4 + 2] annulation reaction was established between isatin-derived Morita–Baylis–Hillman (Is-MBH) alcohols with alkylidene pyrazolones to access structural diverse tetrahydro-dispiro[indolinone-3,2′-pyran-5′,4″-pyrazolone] scaffolds bearing two tertiary and two quaternary stereocenters. The Is-MBH alcohol was utilized as an oxa-Michael donor for the first time as a new approach in highly atom-economical transformations. This method offered a wide range of bioinspired novel tetrahydro-dispirooxindole-pyran-pyrazolone derivatives in excellent yields (up to 96%) and diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1) in a shorter reaction time (15 min).

Purpose: This paper aims to present a cascaded pseudo derivative feedback (PDF) plus pseudo derivative feedback plus pseudo derivative feedforward (PDFF) controller for a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) to improve the transient response of the system. Design/methodology/approach: Proportional integral (PI) plus PI controller and the proposed PDF plus PDFF controller are designed, stability analysis is performed using the extended root locus method, and the effect of the damping coefficient is also extensively studied to validate the robustness of the proposed controller. Findings: When compared to a cascaded PI plus PI controller, the proposed control approach has a much shorter settling time for the entire system and a 50% reduction in overshoot in stator current under extensive variations in speed with load disturbance. Originality/value: The proposed controller is programmed into an FPGA Altera Cyclone II and applied to a 1.5 kW laboratory prototype PMSM drive. The effectiveness of the proposed methods has been demonstrated experimentally throughout a wide variable speed range, from 0 to 157 rad/s at different load conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-efficient and stable OLED devices can be obtained via effective charge injection, accumulation, and exciton confinement into the emissive layer. However, the leakage of charge and excitons from the EML to adjacent layers can lead to low device performance. Thus, high-triplet-energy charge-transport materials (CTMs) are required to confront these issues. Herein, we demonstrate a class of efficient arylamine derivatives, viz.TPA-Py, TPA-2Py, and DPA-2Py, which were synthesized through the insertion of triphenyl pyridine as an acceptor unit to the aryl amino system to accomplish high triplet energy, thermal stability, and charge transportability during device operation. The charge-transfer analysis of the developed materials was accomplished for the S1and T1states through theoretical simulation. The intramolecular hole reorganization energies helped in understanding the hole transportability of these molecules. Single-crystal analysis indicated a considerable dihedral angle across the units, quasiplanar geometries, and the nonexistence of π–π stacking in the solid state. These molecular materials exhibited good thermal stability, which improve the morphological stability of their thin films. All of the molecules possess suitable HOMO energy levels for hole injection and appropriate LUMO energy levels for electron blocking from the emissive layer. Moreover, their high triplet energy (up to 2.69 eV) prevents exciton transfer from the EML to HTL and results in better device performance. The device with DPA-2Pyas an HTM in a green OLED showed the maximum current efficiency (CE) and power efficiency (PE) values of ∼74 cd/A and ∼72 lm/W, respectively, with a maximum EQE of ∼21%. The PE of the current device is at par with the highest reported PE so far in solution-processed phosphorescent OLEDs.