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Smart microgels have gained much attention because of their wide range of applications in the field of biomedical, environmental, nanotechnological and catalysis sciences. Most of the applications of microgels are strongly affected by their morphology, size and size distribution. Various methodologies have been adopted to obtain polymer microgel particles. Droplet microfluidic techniques have been widely reported for the fabrication of highly monodisperse microgel particles to be used for various applications. Monodisperse microgel particles of required size and morphology can be achieved via droplet microfluidic techniques by simple polymerization of monomers in the presence of suitable crosslinker or by gelation of high molecular weight polymers. This report gives recent research progress in fabrication, characterization, properties and applications of microgel particles synthesized by microfluidic methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, there are significant concerns about the steadily rising energy demand and depletion of conservative fuels. Water electrolysis provides hydrogen and oxygen, which can be used as a fuel with a highest energy conversion efficiency and gravimetric energy density. In future, hydrogen fuel will take the place of conventional fossil fuels, which are polluting the environment. For a greater range of energy generation devices, the highly appropriate, affordable electrocatalyst for OER is significant. In present work, a NbSe2/rGO nanocomposite was fabricated via hydrothermal process for OER electrochemical studies under 1.0 M KOH. The fabricated materials were verified by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray. Because of its distinct shape, nanocomposite has more surface area, which results in more active pores with lots of potential for transfer of charge and prolonged material stability. The surface area of NbSe2/rGO nanocomposite determined through BET was 51 m2/g, i.e., higher than that of NbSe2, thus providing greater number of active sites for OER performance. The electrocatalytic performance results represented that pure NbSe2 nanosheets revealed a higher Tafel slope (51 mV/dec), conversely, NbSe2/rGO nanocomposite represented lower Tafel slope (36 mV/dec) respectively and efficient durability for 60 h with minor alternation in current density for long time period. As a consequence, the created nanocomposite proves to be an effective electrocatalyst for OER and energy conversion applications. Highlights: The NbSe2/rGO nanocomposite was prepared with the help of Hydrothermal technique. The Bruner–Emmett–Teller (BET) results showed large number of active pores and big surface area. The electrochemical testing of nanocomposite was performed via using 1.0 M KOH alkaline medium using 3 electrode system. The electrochemical results of NbSe2/rGO nanocomposite were acquired for efficient OER process. The electrocatalytic results showed that NbSe2/rGO nanocomposite possessed Overpotential 199 mV and Tafel slope 36 mV/dec. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regenerative medicine, encompassing various therapeutic approaches aimed at tissue repair and regeneration, has emerged as a promising field in the realm of physical therapy. Aim: This comprehensive review seeks to explore the evolving role of regenerative medicine within the domain of physical therapy, highlighting its potential applications, challenges, and current trends. Researchers selected publications of pertinent studies from 2015 to 2024 and performed an exhaustive review of electronic databases such as PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar using the targeted keywords "regenerative medicine", "rehabilitation", "tissue repair", and "physical therapy" to screen applicable studies according to preset parameters for eligibility, then compiled key insights from the extracted data. Several regenerative medicine methods that are applied in physical therapy, in particular, stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), tissue engineering, and growth factor treatments, were analyzed in this research study. The corresponding efficacy of these methods in the recovery process were also elaborated, including a discussion on facilitating tissue repair, alleviating pain, and improving functional restoration. Additionally, this review reports the challenges concerning regenerative therapies, among them the standardization of protocols, safety concerns, and ethical issues. Regenerative medicine bears considerable potential as an adjunctive therapy in physiotherapy, providing new pathways for improving tissue repair and functional results. Although significant strides have been made in interpreting the potential of regenerative techniques, further research is warranted to enhance protocols, establish safety profiles, and increase access and availability. Merging regenerative medicine into the structure of physical therapy indicates a transformative alteration in clinical practice, with the benefit of increasing patient care and improving long-term results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this paper is to obtain physically stable stellar models coupled with anisotropic matter distribution in the context of f (ℛ , T 2) theory. For this, we consider a static spherical geometry and formulate modified field equations containing various unknowns such as matter determinants and metric potentials. We then obtain a unique solution to these equations by employing Durgapal–Fuloria ansatz possessing a constant doublet. We also use matching criteria to calculate the values of these constants by considering the Schwarzschild exterior spacetime. Two different viable models of this modified theory are adopted to analyze the behavior of effective matter variables, anisotropy, energy conditions, compactness and redshift in the interiors of Her X-1, PSR J0348-0432, LMC X-4, SMC X-1, Cen X-3, and SAX J 1808.4-3658 star candidates. We also check the stability of these models by using three different physical tests. It is concluded that our considered stars satisfy all the physical requirements and are stable in this modified gravity for the considered parametric values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2012, transgender persons in Pakistan were granted right for a legal third gender identity, and in 2018 the Transgender Persons (Protection) of Rights Act affirmed transgender people's right for self-perceived identity. Further, gender affirming medical treatments were also legalized to support gender transitioning in transgender persons. The current study was conducted to explore barriers faced by female-to-male (FtM) transgender persons/trans men in accessing gender affirmative treatment for the purposes of gender transition. To achieve the objective, 11 trans men were interviewed who had Childhood Onset of Gender Dysphoria screened through Urdu translated versions of Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults and Recalled Childhood Gender Identity Questionnaire. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted and grounded theory method was used for analysis. Analysis revealed medical, educational, social, legal, religious, financial, and psychological barriers that participants faced during the process of transitioning. Findings are discussed within the cultural context of Pakistan and in light of the existing literature. The findings of this research would help clinicians, academicians, policy makers and other stake holders in raising awareness regarding problems faced by FtM transgender persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is a major staple and vital food after wheat, which is consumed globally on a daily basis. However, due to drastic climatic variation, its production is severely impacted by abiotic stresses including drought, salinity, nutrient deficiency, overly submergence, temperature fluctuation and heavy metal stress. Although plants have well-developed defensive mechanisms of stress tolerance, still they are badly affected. According to estimation about 20% of irrigated land is salt affected. Rice is tolerant to salt stress, but their yield losses are higher in low lands than in upper land, mainly due to ionic imbalance and osmotic stress. It is semi-aquatic but prolonged submergence has a lethal effect on plant development and yield. Temperature is another major limitation in rice production, a 1% increase in temperature causes a 10% reduction in yield under dry season. Globally, drought slashes national cereal production by 9-10%, causing up to 28% yield losses during critical growth stages, exacerbated by high-temperature stress. Furthermore, precipitation variations lead to significant production reductions. Heavy metal contamination poses health risks and disrupts ecosystems, with over 53 metals reported in plants, none with prescribed roles. These stresses manifest in various forms, including nutritional disorders, delayed flowering, panicle abnormalities, infertility, and reduced photosynthesis, ultimately culminating in severe yield losses. To address these challenges, diverse management strategies have been deployed. Genomic studies have provided insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying stress tolerance, identifying key genes and pathways involved in stress perception, signal transduction, and stress response regulation. Highthroughput sequencing technologies, such as RNA sequencing and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), have enabled the identification of stress-responsive genes and genetic variations associated with stress tolerance traits. Additionally, functional genomics approaches, including gene editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas9, have facilitated targeted manipulation of stress-related genes to enhance plant resilience against abiotic stresses. Complementary molecular, physiological, biochemical, and agronomic techniques offer promising avenues to bolster stress tolerance and reinvigorate rice production sustainably, minimizing economic losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being a fatal and serious illness, hepatitis C is not only a physical disease but also carries economic, emotional, and social pressures, putting the patient at risk for developing serious mental health issues. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-compassion and psychological wellbeing moderated by social support among hepatitis C patients. This cross-sectional correlational study examined 260 patients of hepatitis C including men (131) and women (129) from different hospitals of Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Attock through Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003), World Health Organization (Five) Wellbeing Index (World Health Organization, 2018), and Multidimensional Social Support Scale (Winefield et al., 1992). Sample was selected through convenient sampling technique. Study findings indicated that various domains of self-compassion jointly produced 37% of variance while social support produced 44% of joint variance in explaining psychological wellbeing among patients with hepatitis C Individually, common humanity domain of self-compassion was observed to be the most significant positive predictor whereas isolation was the most significant negative predictor of psychological wellbeing. The moderating effect of social support from family and supervisors strengthened the relationship between self-compassion and psychological wellbeing among patients with hepatitis C. In addition, demographic characteristics of the patients were also examined for differences in self-compassion, social support, and psychological wellbeing of the patients. Findings of the study have been discussed in the light of previous literature and cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of green and sustainable hydrogen fuel using water oxidation is a perfect solution to world’s mounting energy disaster. Nevertheless, the practical application of this technique is restricted by the absence of earth-rich, low-cost and effective electrocatalysts to perform kinetically slower OER. The MgIn2O4/gCN nanocomposite material was created using a straightforward hydrothermal method, which results in high electrical conductivity and low mixed-valence cation charge transfer resistance. A range of scientific methods like X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) were examined to ascertain the crystal structure, shape and elemental composition of prepared materials. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were conducted to find the improved MgIn2O4/gCN electrode material’s water oxidation capacity and durability in alkaline medium. These findings showed that at benchmark current density (Cd) of 10 mA/cm2, the resulting nanocomposite represents lower overpotential (215 mV) and decreased Tafel slope (42 mV/dec). Additionally, chronoamperometry was used to assess the electrocatalysts’ stability in alkaline solutions, which showed that electrocatalyst remained stable for 20 h. The remarkable electrocatalytic activity of MgIn2O4/gCN is attributed to its structural synergistic effect, which amplifies the OER performance. Based on these results, spinel oxide can be optimized to improve OER optimization for energy-producing applications by adding gCN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]