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Contractive auto-encoder (CAE) is a type of auto-encoders and a deep learning algorithm that is based on multilayer training approach. It is considered as one of the most powerful, efficient and robust classification techniques, more specifically feature reduction. The problem independence, easy implementation and intelligence of solving sophisticated problems make it distinct from other deep learning approaches. However, CAE fails in data dimensionality reduction that cause difficulty to capture the useful information within the features space. In order to resolve the issues of CAE, restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM) layers have been integrated with CAE to enhance the dimensionality reduction and a randomized factor for hidden layer parameters. The proposed model has been evaluated on four benchmark variant datasets of MNIST. The results have been compared with four well-known multiclass class classification approaches including standard CAE, RBM, AlexNet and artificial neural network. A considerable amount of improvement has been observed in the performance of proposed model as compared to other classification techniques. The proposed CAE–RBM showed an improvement of 2–4% on MNIST(basic), 9–12% for MNIST(rot), 7–12% for MNIST(bg-rand) and 7–10% for MNIST(bg-img) dataset in term of final accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a pure biopolymer with abundant sources. BC has been used in wound dressings, artificial blood vessels, bone tissue engineering, and other applications because of its microporosity, superior water retention, thermal stability, and biocompatibility. The tensile strength of pure BC in wet state is weak, and the water holding capacity is above 90%, which limits its application. However, the mechanical properties of dehydrated BC are excellent at the expense of toughness, which is not enough to meet the demand of high additional-value materials, such as high strength flexible electronic device substrate, wearable electronic devices, vibration film for microphone and earphone, and others. Therefore, it is of great importance to systematically investigate the strategies to improve the mechanical properties of BC. Herein, this paper demonstrates the intrinsic factors affecting the mechanical properties of BC, along with the strategies to enhance the mechanical properties. Compared with the well-known adhesion reinforcement and chemical modification, six strategies to enhance the mechanical properties were discussed thoroughly in this paper. In addition, layer-by-layer self-assembly and orderly arrangement of fibrils are proposed in this paper to improve the mechanical properties of BC, which have not been described in detail in previous literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis C is a serious health issue and cause liver disorders in millions of people. Available therapeutic agents require long term administration with numerous side effects. Therefore, there is a dire need to find alternative treatment options for this disease. Since ancient times, medicinal plants are widely used to cure various diseases with no or less harmful effects. Therefore, this study was designed to find out phytochemicals and investigate antiviral activity of methanol extract of Ajuga bracteosa, Ajuga parviflora, Berberis lycium and Citrus lemon against Hepatitis C Virus (HCV infection). Phytochemical analysis of the plant extract was performed using various chemical tests. Toxicity of the plant extract was determined against using trypan blue exclusion method. Antiviral activity of the selected plant extract was find out against HCV infected HepG2 cells. For this purpose, HepG2 cells were seeded with HCV positive and negative serum and nontoxic doses of plant extract for 24 and 48 h. After this RNA was extracted and viral load was determined using Real-time PCR. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of flavonoids and phenols in all plant extracts while amino acids, alkaloids and tannins were present in B. lycium and saponins were detected in C. lemon . Toxicity assay showed that all plant extracts were nontoxic at maximum concentration of 200 μg/ml except B. lycium, which showed mild toxicity at 40 μg/ml and were extremely toxic at 60 μg/ml and above doses. Real-time PCR quantitation result revealed that after 24 h treatments A. parviflora showed highest antiviral activity, followed by A. bracteosa , while B. lycium extract had low (35%) and C. lemon has no antiviral effects. The 48 h treatments showed an increase antiviral activity by A. bracteosa followed by A. parviflora and B. lycium while C. lemon showed negative effect. Our results depicted that mentioned plants might be used as an alternative therapeutic regime or in combination with existing treatments against HCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by demyelination, neuronal injury, and breaching of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Epidemiological studies have shown that immunological, genetic, and environmental factors contribute to the progression and development of MS. T helper 17 (Th17) cells are crucial immunological participant in the pathophysiology of MS. The aberrant production of IL-17 and IL-22 by Th17 cells crosses BBB promotes its disruption and interferes with transmission of nerve signals through activation of neuroinflammation in the CNS. These inflammatory responses promote demyelination through transcriptional activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription-1 (STAT-1), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), interferon ϒ (IFNϒ), and Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1 (SHP-1). B cells also contribute to disease progression through abnormal regulation of antibodies, cytokines, and antigen presentation. Additionally, oxidative stress has been known as a causative agent for the MS. Curcumin is a hydrophobic yellowish diphenolic component of turmeric, which can interact and modulate multiple cell signaling pathways and prevent the development of various autoimmune neurological diseases including MS. Studies have reported curcumin as a potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant agent that could modulate cell cycle regulatory proteins, enzymes, cytokines, and transcription factors in CNS-related disorders including MS. The current study summarizes the reported knowledge on therapeutic potential of curcumin against MS, with future indication as neuroprotective and neuropharmacological drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with suitable characteristics could meet the distinctive requirements of various applications, such as catalysis, energy conversion, and molecular-sensing devices. It is indispensable to realize the apt functionalization and modification of COFs, mainly by introducing the heteroatoms to their copious pores and distinct structures. Herein, we designed nitrogenated COFs (N-COFs) with well-ordered nanopores and nitrogen-atoms, using density functional theory (DFT) and experiments. The N-COFs provided a uniquely coordinated environment for a single cobalt atom anchored between two nitrogen-atoms, which enables efficient CO 2 -reduction to formic-acid. In N-COFs catalyst, the N-atoms network is covalently linked to the carbonic-framework, providing the structure a crystalline nature. Moreover, N-COFs material is stable even at 1000 °C. DFT analysis revealed that the bandgap of Co-N-COF decreases to 0.67 eV owing to the synergistic effect of structural features and Co-coordination, while the bandgap of N-COF was 1.80 eV. The excellent catalytic-activity with formate partial current-densities ~446 mA cm−2, selectivity with highest Faradaic efficiency ~97.4%, and stability of 100 h was delivered by the synthesized catalyst. Moreover, Co-N-COF electrocatalyst showed high purification of formic-acid solutions (~100 wt%) and lower selectivity for CO 2 conversion to CO, which was ~3%, and for HER it was ~4%. [Display omitted] • Nitrogenated covalent organic framework (N-COF) is stable and active support. • Both N-COF and Co-N-COF is semiconductor with bangap 1.8 eV and 0.67 eV respectively. • The Co-N-COF electrocatalyst exhibits a high activity formate partial current densities ~446 mA cm−2. • The Co-N-COF has maximal Faradaic efficiency ~97.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scrutinizing competent and economical electrocatalysts for carbon-di-oxide reduction reactions (CO 2 RR) is essential for wide-range commercialization of livestock feed. Therefore, via density functional theory (DFT), we broadly explored the electrocatalytic performance of two-dimensional (2D) metal−organic frameworks (Y 3 (C 6 X 6) 2), where Y indicates Co, Cu, Pd, Pt; and X indicates organic ligands; (NH, NHS, S) for CO 2 RR. The 2D Y 3 (C 6 X 6) 2 monolayers unveiled metallic behavior due to the suitable π electron conjugation network and the productive interaction among the metal atom, organic ligands, and benzene rings, except for Co 3 (C 6 S 6) 2 , which revealed semiconducting behavior. Significantly, the catalytic performance of Y 3 (C 6 X 6) 2 is influenced by the strength of interaction between the CO 2 RR intermediates and the metal complex (Y-X 4), which may be altered by varying the central metal atom with different d-electron orbitals or by organic ligands. Surprisingly, Co 3 (C 6 (NH) 3 S 3) 2 , Co 3 (C 6 (NH) 3) 2 , and Cu 3 (C 6 S 6) 2 have excellent CO 2 RR to formic acid activity. Whereas, Pt 3 (C 6 (NH) 3) 2 and Pd 3 (C 6 (NH) 3) 2 shows good CO 2 RR to carbon mono-oxide activity. Our research provides imperative insights for designing and screening efficient CO 2 RR catalysts. This research put forward the idea of developing metal-organic frameworks with beneficial properties to meet the specific requirements of diverse research areas, such as catalysis, energy storage, and molecular sensing. [Display omitted] • The 2D Y 3 (C 6 X 6) 2 monolayers shows metallic behavior with good conductivity for electron transfer. • The optimized lattice parameters and the pore size of Y 3 (C 6 X 6) 2 fluctuate via changing the organic ligands and metal atoms. • The distance between two metal atoms is not less than 6.67 Å, demonstrating the single-atom catalysts characteristics of Y 3 (C 6 X 6) 2 monolayers. • The tunable performance of Y 3 (C 6 X 6) 2 depends on the strength of interaction between the CO 2 RR intermediates and the metal complex (Y-X 4). • Co 3 (C 6 (NH) 3 S 3) 2 , Co 3 (C 6 (NH) 3) 2 , and Cu 3 (C 6 S 6) 2 shows excellent CO 2 RR to formic-acid activity. • Pt 3 (C 6 (NH) 3) 2 and Pd 3 (C 6 (NH) 3) 2 shows good CO 2 RR to carbon mono-oxide activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dalbergia sissoo L. and Catharanthus roseus L. are important medicinal plants used since olden times for the treatment of various diseases like skin diseases, eye ailments and inflammatory conditions. The main aim of the study was to assess the pharmacological effects of D. sissoo leaves extract (DSLE) and C. roseus leaves extract (CRLE) for the treatment of inflammation associated corneal neovascularization (CNV). Both plant materials were powdered and extracted with the methanol. Phytochemical evaluation of methanol extract of D. sissoo leaves and C. roseus leaves was performed using different chemical tests and thin layer chromatography (TLC). Pharmacological effects of DSLE and CRLE were carried out using chemically induced CNV in animal model. Histological analysis of corneal tissues was also performed. Phytochemical evaluation of the extracts has demonstrated the presence of major phytochemicals like flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenes, and steroids in the DSLE and alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, and phenols in the CRLE. TLC of both extracts also indicated the presence of different phytochemicals. Photographic analysis of DSLE and CRLE demonstrated that they had inhibited the CNV positively as compared to the vehicle control and positive control groups. Histological analysis of both extracts confirmed the results of photographic analysis that indicated the recovery and rearrangement of corneal fibers and absence of inflammatory cells and blood vessels. Findings from the current study suggest that the DSLE and CRLE can be used for the treatment of CNV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop simulation models can be effective tools to assist with optimization of resources for a particular agroecological zone. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of N rates with different timing of application to wheat crop using prominent varieties using the CSM-CERES-Wheat model of the decision support system for agrotechnology transfer (DSSAT). Data were focused for yield traits, i.e., number of tillers, number of grains, grain weight, grain yield, biomass, and grain N content. To test the applicability of the CSM-CERES-Wheat version 4.7.5 model for agroclimatic conditions of Peshawar, Pakistan, experimental data from two years of experiments (2016–17 and 2017–18) were used for model calibration and evaluation. The simulation results of two years agreed well with field measured data for three commercial varieties. The model efficiency (R2) for wheat varieties was above 0.94 for variables tiller number per unit area (m−2), number of grains (m−2) and number of grains (spike−1), 1000 grain weight (mg), biomass weight (kg ha−1), grain yield (kg ha−1), and harvest N content (kg ha−1). Statistics of cultivars indicated that yield traits, yield, and N can be simulated efficiently for agroecological conditions of Peshawar. Moreover, different N rates and application timings suggested that the application of 140 kg N ha−1 with triple splits timings, i.e., 25% at the sowing, 50% at the tillering, and 25% at the booting stage of the crop, resulted in the maximum yield and N recovery for different commercial wheat varieties. Simulated N losses, according to the model, were highly determined by leaching for experimental conditions where a single N application of 100% or existing double splits timing was applied. The study concluded that 140 kg N ha−1 is most appropriate for wheat crop grown on clay loam soils under a flood irrigation system. However, the N fertilizer has to be given in triple splits of a 1:2:1 ratio at the sowing, tillering, and booting stages of the crop growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is the main hurdle in achieving sustainable crop production ps especially in calcareous soils. Using bio-fertilizers like phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) could be a useful approach for sustainable P management as they improve P availability in soil via dissolution, desorption and mineralization reactions. In addition, application of organic amendments with PSB could further ameliorate soil conditions for sustainable management of immobilized nutrients in calcarious soils. Therefore, we performed pot experiment to study the role of PSB in nullifying antagonistic effects of liming (4.78, 10, 15 and 20%) on P availability from poultry manure (PM), farm yard manure (FYM), single super phosphate (SSP) and rock phosphate (RP) in alkaline soils. PSB inoculation improved wheat growth, P availability and stimulated soil acidification over control regardless of P sources and lime levels. Soil calcification adversely affected plant growth, P nutrition, induced soil salinity and alkalinity, however, PSB and manures application potentially nullified such harmful effects over mentioned traits. Individually, organic sources were superior than mineral sources however, the performance of mineral fertilizers with PSB was at par to sole application of manures. Furthermore, application of RP with PSB proved as effective as sole SSP. Therefore, using PSB as bio-fertilizer has huge potential for improving P availability in calcareous soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique pool of features makes bacterial cellulose (BC) a robust platform to tailor its functionalities. Herein, the BC matrix was reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to control infection and accelerate the healing process of diabetic wounds. The prepared BC-MWCNT composite film was characterized and antibacterial activity was assessed. Further, the in-vivo wound healing activity was performed and temporal expression of interleukin (IL-1α), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelets derived growth factor (PDGF) was quantitatively measured by real-time PCR. The characterization results confirmed the reinforcement of the BC matrix with MWCNT. The composite film showed antibacterial activity against all the tested strains. Moreover, the macroscopic analysis of the wound demonstrated faster closure of the diabetic wound in BC-MWCNT group (99% healing) as compared to negative control (77%) in 21 days. Histological studies further supported the results where complete reepithelization of the epidermis and healthy granulation tissue were observed in BC-MWCNT treated group. Molecular studies revealed that BC-MWCNT group showed relatively lesser expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1α and TNF-α and higher expression of VEGF than control that may have favored the faster healing. This study suggested that the tailorable properties of BC can be exploited to develop composites with potential applications in diabetic wound healing. [Display omitted] • An efficient dressing system was designed for faster diabetic wound healing. • BC reinforced with MWCNT showed promising antibacterial efficiency. • The BC-MWCNT treatment showed faster closure of the diabetic wound. • The composite showed good angiogenesis and complete reepithelization of the wound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a promising biopolymer, but its three-dimensional structure needs to be controllable to be used in multiple fields. BC has some advantages over other types of cellulose, not only in terms of purity and properties but also in terms of modification (in situ modification) during the synthesis process. Here, starches from different sources or with amylose/amylopectin content were added to the growth medium to regulate the structural properties of BC in-situ. The obtained BC membranes were further modified by superhydrophobic treatment for oil-water separation. Starches alter the viscosity of the medium, thus affecting bacterial motility and cellulose synthesis, and adhere to the microfibers, limiting their further polymerization and ultimately altering the membrane porosity, pore size, and mechanical properties perpendicular to the BC fibril layer direction. The average pore diameter of the BC/PS membrane increased by 1.94 times compared to the initial BC membrane. The chemically modified BC/PS membrane exhibited super-hydrophobicity (water contact angle 167°), high oil-water separation flux (dichloromethane, 23,205 Lm−2 h−1 MPa−1), high separation efficiency (>97%). The study provides a foundation for developing methods to regulate the network structure of BC and broaden its application. • The network structure of bacterial cellulose was regulated in situ by starch. • Amylose/amylopectin content affects membrane pore size. • The longitudinal mechanical properties of the membrane were enhanced. • The obtained super-hydrophobic membrane can realize oil-water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (Ag. NPs) have shown a biological activity range, synthesized under different environment-friendly approaches. Ag. NPs were synthesized using aqueous crude extract (ACE) isolated from Plantago lanceolata. The ACE and Ag. NPs were characterized and assessed their biological and antioxidant activities. The existence of nanoparticles (NPs) was confirmed by color shift, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and UV–Vis's spectroscopy. The FT-IR analysis indicated the association of biomolecules (phenolic acid and flavonoids) to reduce silver (Ag+) ions. The SEM study demonstrated a sphere-shaped and mean size in the range of 30 ± 4 nm. The EDX spectrum revealed that the Ag. NPs were composed of 54.87% Ag with 20 nm size as identified by SEM and TEM. AFM has ended up being exceptionally useful in deciding morphological elements and the distance across of Ag. NPs in the scope of 23–30 nm. The TEM image showed aggregations of NPs and physical interaction. Ag. NPs formation also confirmed by XPS, DRS and BET studies. Ag. NPs showed efficient activity as compared to ACE, and finally, the bacterial growth was impaired by biogenic NPs. The lethal dose (LD50) of Ag. NPs against Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli were 45.66%, 139.71%, 332.87%, and 45.54%, with IC50 (08.02 ± 0.68), (55.78 ± 1.01), (12.34 ± 1.35) and (11.68 ± 1.42) respectively, suppressing the growth as compared to ACE. The antioxidant capacity, i.e., 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) of Ag. NPs were assayed. ACE and Ag. NPs achieved a peak antioxidant capacity of 62.43 ± 2.4 and 16.85 ± 0.4 μg mL−1, compared to standard (69.60 ± 1.1 at 100 μg mL−1) with IC50 (369.5 ± 13.42 and 159.5 ± 10.52 respectively). Finally, the Ag. NPs synthesized by P. lanceolata extract have an excellent source of bioactive natural products (NP). Outstanding antioxidant, antibacterial activities have been shown by NPs and can be used in various biological techniques in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bacterial cellulose and Needle-leaf bleached Kraft pulp were used to fabricate a hydrophobic complex membrane. • The membrane showed outstanding super hydrophobicity. • The membrane achieved oil/water separation with high efficiency by gravitational force alone. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a substrate material with high purity and robust mechanical strength, but due to its small pore size and relatively expensive price, it is restricted as an oil-/water separation membrane. In this study, cheaper plant cellulose needle-leaf bleached kraft pulp (NBKP) was added to BC to increase the pore size of the composite membrane, and a superhydrophobic/superoleophilic membrane was prepared for oil-/water separation. The modified membrane surface displayed a petal-like micro-structure and a water contact angle (WCA) of 162.3°, while the oil contact angle was decreased to 0°. What's more, the membrane exhibited excellent oil-/water separation under gravity, recyclability, and a separation efficiency (>95 %), and it was both pH and salt resistant. The membrane also remained durably hydrophobic after 10 separation cycles. And the separation methodology is expected to be highly energy-efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasing antibiotic resistance continues to focus on research into the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents. Due to its antimicrobial and wound healing-promoting activity, metal nanoparticles have attracted attention for dermatological applications. This study is designed to investigate the scope and bactericidal potential of zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe2O4 NPs), and the mechanism of anti-bacterial action along with cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and wound healing properties. Results: ZnFe2O4 NPs were synthesized via a modified co-precipitation method. Structure, size, morphology, and elemental compositions of ZnFe2O4 NPs were analyzed using X-ray diffraction pattern, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. In PrestoBlue and live/dead assays, ZnFe2O4 NPs exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxic effects on human dermal fibroblasts. In addition, the hemocompatibility assay revealed that the NPs do not significantly rupture red blood cells up to a dose of 1000 µg/mL. Bacterial live/dead imaging and zone of inhibition analysis demonstrated that ZnFe2O4 NPs showed dose-dependent bactericidal activities in various strains of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Interestingly, NPs showed antimicrobial activity through multiple mechanisms, such as cell membrane damage, protein leakage, and reactive oxygen species generation, and were more effective against gram-positive bacteria. Furthermore, in vitro scratch assay revealed that ZnFe2O4 NPs improved cell migration and proliferation of cells, with noticeable shrinkage of the artificial wound model. Conclusions: This study indicated that ZnFe2O4 NPs have the potential to be used as a future antimicrobial and wound healing drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Bacterial cellulose and modified montmorillonites nanocomposites were prepared through particle impregnation method. • Synthesis of nanocomposites was confirmed by Fe-SEM, FTIR and XRD. • Nanocomposites showed antibacterial activity against various burn wound pathogens. • Nanocomposites enhanced burn wound healing and tissue regeneration in animal model. Abstract Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a promising biopolymer with wound healing and tissue regenerative properties but lack of antimicrobial property limits its biomedical applications. Therefore, current study was proposed to combine wound healing property of BC with antimicrobial activity of montmorillonite (MMT) and modified montmorillonites (Cu-MMT, Na-MMT and Ca-MMT) to design novel artificial substitute for burns. Designed nanocomposites were characterized through Fe-SEM, FTIR and XRD. The antimicrobial activities of composites were tested against Escherichia coli , Salmonella typhimurium , Citrobacter fruendii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Tissue regeneration and wound healing activities of the composites were assessed in burn mice model. Physico-chemical characterization confirmed the loading of MMT onto surface and BC matrix. Modified MMTs-BC nanocomposites showed clear inhibitory zone against the tested pathogens. Animals treated with modified MMTs-BC nanocomposites exhibited enhanced wound healing activity with tissue regeneration, reepithelialization, healthy granulation and vascularization. These findings demonstrated that modified MMTs-BC nanocomposites could be used as a novel artificial skin substitute for burn patients and scaffold for skin tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercapacitors employ transitional metal oxides as pseudocapacitive materials have drawn great attention owing to their prominent energy storage performances, but most of them are concentrate on simplex metal oxides. In this work, we reported a novel electrode material for supercapacitors composed of NiO-MnCo 2 O 4 heterostructure hollow spheres via a facile and one-pot route. The resulting hybrid electrode material demonstrates a high specific capacity of 660 C g−1 at 1 A g−1. An assembled hybrid supercapacitor based on this unique heterostructure hollow spheres as positive electrode and nitrogen doped hierarchically porous carbon as negative electrode indicates a favorable energy density of 40 Wh kg−1 at 750 W kg−1 and long cycling lifespan of nearly 90% capacity retention rate after 5000 cycles. This work not only produces a competitive electrode material for energy storage devices but also offers a feasible strategy for producing complex transitional metal oxides materials with high capacitive performance. [Display omitted] • Facile and one-pot synthesis of NiO-MnCo 2 O 4 heterostructure hollow spheres. • Heterostructure is constructed based on NiO (111) and MnCo 2 O 4 (111). • The gap between the two crystal planes acts as channels for electrolyte diffusion. • As-prepared material demonstrates a specific capacity of 660 C g−1 at 1 A g−1. • Assembled HSC indicates a favorable energy density of 40 Wh kg−1 at 750 W kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Strain ZY7 exhibits excellent synergistic effect with strain XL4 at low C/N ratio. • Cellulose is degraded to readily utilizable carbon source for denitrification strain. • Hydrolysis of β-1,4-glycosidic bonds and oligosaccharides as rate-limiting steps. • Aromatic protein will be catabolized and consumed in the co-culture environment. This study emphasizes on the cellulase production characteristics of strain ZY7 and its collaboration with nitrate-dependent ferrous oxidizing (NFO) strain XL4 to achieve efficient denitrification at low carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio. Results indicated that the denitrification efficiency increased from 65.47 to 97.99% at 24 h after co-culture at C/N of 1.0. Three-dimensional fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) showed significant changes in the intensity of soluble microbial products (SMP), fulvic-like materials, and aromatic proteins after co-culture. Bio-precipitates were characterized by Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and X–ray diffraction (XRD), which showed that cellulose structure was disrupted and the metabolites were potential carbon source for denitrification. In addition, cellulase activity suggested that the hydrolysis of β-1,4-glycosidic bonds and oligosaccharides may be the rate-limiting steps in cellulose degradation. This work promoted the understanding of denitrification characteristics of co-culture and expanded the application of cellulose degrading bacteria in sewage treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Single-layered porous aza-fused π-conjugated graphene analogous 2D materials (PAG) with a distinct crystalline carbonic framework, highly ordered specific pores, and consistently dispersed nitrogen atoms are stable and active support to coordinate Co. • The spin density around the active site is increased with cobalt coordination resulting in good catalytic activity around Co sites. The band gap of Co-PAG is reduced to 0.7 eV compare to PAG which is 1.79 eV. Moreover, both PAG and Co-PAG show outstanding thermal stability even at 1000 K. • By hydrogenation and electroreduction approaches we find that PAG and Co-PAG materials are active and stable catalyst for CO 2 conversion to formic acid • The highest barrier along the complete reaction path is about 0.78 eV which is feasible for the experiment to carry out this reaction at an elevated temperature. • The overpotential requires for PAG material in CO 2 RR to formic-acid is 0.46 V vs. RHE which is significantly larger than for Co-PAG (0.18 V), which suggests that Co-doping in PAG material makes the formic-acid reaction path significantly energy favorable. In this work, we report novel single-layered porous aza-fused π-conjugated graphene-analogous 2D materials (PAG) with well-organized nanopores and consistently allocated nitrogen atoms as supporting specie to coordinate cobalt (Co) atom through nitrogen inside (Co-PAG), for CO 2 conversion to formic-acid by hydrogenation and electrochemical approaches. Because of the synergetic effect of structural characteristics and Co-coordination, the band gap of Co-PAG is reduced to 0.7 eV, while that of PAG is 1.79 eV. The molecular dynamic (MD) simulations uncover the stability of PAG/Co-PAG. From reaction pathway analysis, it is concluded that Co-PAG can effectively hydrogenate CO 2 to formic acid. The highest barrier is 0.78 eV, which is feasible for experiments to carry out this reaction at elevated temperatures. Furthermore, the overpotential requirement for PAG material in CO 2 electroreduction (CO 2 RR) to formic-acid is 0.46 V which is significantly larger than that for Co-PAG (0.18 V). Both PAG and Co-PAG surfaces retain higher selectivity for formic acid than that of carbon mono oxides and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and cobalt coordination in PAG support makes the formic-acid reaction path significantly energy favorable. These results confirm that PAG can be possible catalyst support and that Co-coordination in PAG material makes the formic-acid reaction path significantly more energy favorable. Cobalt coordinated single-layered porous aza-fused π-conjugated graphene analogous 2D material a stable and active electrocatalyst for CO 2 reduction reaction [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we mainly investigate the adsorption properties of the simulated single and mixture wastewaters over porous Bi 2 MoO 6 @BiOCl@MOF-199 (BMO@BOC@MOF-199), including methylene blue (MB), rhodamine blue (RhB), methyl orange (MO) and chromium (VI). It is found that BMO@BOC@MOF-199 has a high adsorption capacity for MB, but a poor adsorption capacity for MO. Specifically, for single MB solution, 67%, 80% and 96% of MB are adsorbed by BMO@BOC, MOF-199 and BMO@BOC@MOF-199, respectively. The higher adsorption capacity of BMO@BOC@MOF-199 could be due to its higher surface area and larger pore volume. For single MO solution, nevertheless, only 16%, 13% and 7% of MO are adsorbed by BMO@BOC, MOF-199 and BMO@BOC@MOF-199, respectively. The different adsorption efficiency for MB and MO could be relative to their different molecular structures, which have different electrostatic interactions with adsorbent surface. For single RhB and single Cr(VI) solution, BMO@BOC@MOF-199 has adsorbed 30% RhB and 10% Cr(VI). In RhB-MO mixture solution, 32% RhB and 9% MO can be adsorbed by BMO@BOC@MOF-199, while in Cr(VI)–RhB-MO mixture solution, 7% Cr(VI), 3% RhB and 42% MO can be adsorbed by BMO@BOC@MOF-199. It is seen that in RhB-MO mixture solution, the adsorption efficiencies of RhB and MO by BMO@BOC@MOF-199 do not obviously change as compared to single RhB and single MO solution, while in Cr(VI)–RhB-MO mixture solution, the adsorption efficiency of MO has increased by 5 times, compared to single MO solution; but the adsorption efficiency of RhB has decreased by 9.7 times as compared to single RhB solution, and the adsorption efficiency of Cr(VI) has decreased slightly, compared to single Cr(VI) solution. The results are mainly attributed to the competitive adsorption on the adsorbent surface. This work can help us to understand the adsorption process for practical wastewater. [Display omitted] • Bi 2 MoO 6 @BiOCl@MOF-199 is got via a one-pot solvothermal method. • BMO@BOC@MOF-199 shows a higher adsorption capacity for MB than MO. • All adsorption process follows the nonlinear pseudo-first and pseudo second order kinetics. • This research work favors to understand adsorption processes for practical wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LC–MS/MS and molecular networking was used for chemical profiling of C. opaca fruit. • A total of 25 compounds were observed in extract and fractions. • Flavonoids, phenolics and triterpenoids were annotated as major classes of compounds. • Extract and fractions inhibited activity of α-glucosidase and urease. The phytochemical profile of Carissa opaca fruit extract and fractions was established through dereplication strategies employing LC-MS/MS and global natural product social molecular networking (GNPS). Crude extract and fractions were evaluated for their potential to inhibit α -glucosidase and urease in vitro. Flavonoid-O-glycosides, flavonoid-C-glycosides, flavonoids, proanthocyanidin B2, phenolics, and triterpenoids were annotated as the major classes of secondary metabolites present in the extract and fractions. α -Glucosidase inhibition was associated with n -butanol and ethyl acetate fractions comparable to acarbose (IC 50 = 120.43 µg/mL) with IC 50 values of 123.67 and 131.72 µg/mL, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction showed good urease inhibition comparable with thiourea (IC 50 = 103.71 µg/mL) with an IC 50 value of 109.14 µg/mL. Molecular docking studies of compounds observed in the crude extract and bioactive fractions had significant binding scores, which supported results for enzyme inhibition in vitro. This study provided a detailed phytochemical profile of C. opaca fruit and its enzyme inhibition potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar prepared from various feedstock materials has been utilized in recent years as a potential stabilizing agent for heavy metals in smelter-contaminated soils. However, the effectiveness of animal bone-derived biochar and its potential for the stabilization of contaminants remains unclear. In the present study, sheep bone-derived biochar (SB) was prepared at low (500 °C; SBL) and high temperatures (800 °C; SBH) and amended a smelter-contaminated soil at 2, 5, and 10% (w/w). The effects of SB on soil properties, bioavailable Zn and Cd and their geochemical fractions, bacterial community composition and activity, and the response of plant attributes (pigments and antioxidant activity) were assessed. Results showed that the SBH added at 10% (SBH 10) increased soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and phosphorus, and also increased the oxidizable and residual Zn and Cd fractions at the expense of the bioavailable fractions. The SBH 10 lowered the Zn and Cd contents in maize roots (by 57 and 60%) and shoot (by 42 and 61%), respectively, compared to unamended control. Additionally, SBH 10 enhanced urease (98%) and phosphates (107%) activities, but reduced dehydrogenase (58%) and β-glucosidase (30%) activities. Regarding the effect of the pyrolysis temperature, SBH enhanced the activity of Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Nitrospirae, Verrucomicrobia, Chlorobi , and Microgenomates , but reduced Actinobacteria and Parcubacteria in comparison to SBL. However, only the SBL 10 reduced the Proteobacteria community (by 9%). In conclusion, SB immobilized Zn and Cd in smelter-affected soils, enhanced the bacterial abundance and microbial function (urease, phosphates), and improved plant growth. However, validation of the results, obtained from the pot experiment, under field conditions is suggested. [Display omitted] • Low-temperature biochar application reduced Zn & Cd bioavailability in soil. • Application of high-temperature biochar reduced Zn & Cd contents in root & shoots. • Biochar enhanced the bacterial abundance of specific phyla & enzymatic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptomyces pactum (Act12) , an agent of a gentle in situ remediation approach, has been recently used in few works in phytoextraction trials; however, the impact of Act12 on soil quality and metal phytoavailability has not been assessed in multi-metal contaminated soils. Consequently, here we assessed the potential impact of Act12 on the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth, antioxidants activity, and the metal bioavailability in three industrial and mining soils collected from China and contained up to 118, 141, 339, and 6625 mg Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn kg−1 soil, respectively. The Act12 was applied at 0 (control), 0.75 (Act-0.75), 1.50 (Act-1.5), and 2.25 (Act-2.25) g kg−1 (dry weight base) to the three soils; thereafter, the soils were cultivated with wheat (bio-indicator plant) in a pot experiment. The addition of Act12 (at Act-1.5 and Act-2.25) promoted wheat growth in the three soils and significantly increased the content of Cd, Cu, and Zn in the roots and shoots and Pb only in the roots (up to 121%). The Act12-induced increase in metals uptake by wheat might be attributed to the associated decrease in soil pH and/or the increase of metal chelation and production of indole acetic acid and siderophores. The Act12 significantly decreased the antioxidant activities and lipid peroxidation in wheat, which indicates that Act12 may mitigate metals stress in contaminated soils. Enhancing metals phytoextraction using Act12 is a promising ecofriendly approach for phytoremediation of metal-contaminated mining soils that can be safely utilized with non-edible plants and/or bioenergy crops. [Display omitted] • Streptomyces pactum (Act 12) affected metal mobility and phytoavailability. • Act 12 decreased soil pH and promoted wheat growth. • Act 12 enhanced the uptake of Cd, Cu, and Zn in wheat shoots and roots. • Act12 increased Pb concentrations in the roots but decreased it in the shoots. • Act12 decreased peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and lipid peroxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater with an excessive level of Arsenic (As) is a threat to human health. In Bangladesh, out of 64 districts, the groundwater of 50 and 59 districts contains As exceeding the Bangladesh (50 μg/L) and WHO (10 μg/L) standards for potable water. This review focuses on the occurrence, origin, plausible sources, and mobilization mechanisms of As in the groundwater of Bangladesh to better understand its environmental as well as public health consequences. High As concentrations mainly was mainly occur from the natural origin of the Himalayan orogenic tract. Consequently, sedimentary processes transport the As-loaded sediments from the orogenic tract to the marginal foreland of Bangladesh, and under the favorable biogeochemical circumstances, As is discharged from the sediment to the groundwater. Rock weathering, regular floods, volcanic movement, deposition of hydrochemical ore, and leaching of geological formations in the Himalayan range cause As occurrence in the groundwater of Bangladesh. Redox and desorption processes along with microbe-related reduction are the key geochemical processes for As enrichment. Under reducing conditions, both reductive dissolution of Fe-oxides and desorption of As are the root causes of As mobilization. A medium alkaline and reductive environment, resulting from biochemical reactions, is the major factor mobilizing As in groundwater. An elevated pH value along with decoupling of As and HCO 3 − plays a vital role in mobilizing As. The As mobilization process is related to the reductive solution of metal oxides as well as hydroxides that exists in sporadic sediments in Bangladesh. Other mechanisms, such as pyrite oxidation, redox cycling, and competitive ion exchange processes, are also postulated as probable mechanisms of As mobilization. The reductive dissolution of MnOOH adds dissolved As and redox-sensitive components such as SO 4 2− and oxidized pyrite, which act as the major mechanisms to mobilize As. The reductive suspension of Mn(IV)-oxyhydroxides has also accelerated the As mobilization process in the groundwater of Bangladesh. Infiltration from the irrigation return flow and surface-wash water are also potential factors to remobilize As. Over-exploitation of groundwater and the competitive ion exchange process are also responsible for releasing As into the aquifers of Bangladesh. • Intensive land use, agrochemicals usage and irrigation are responsible for high As. • Elevated As concentrations mainly occurred in shallow Holocene alluvial aquifers. • Strong reducing condition and moderate alkalinity facilitated As release process. • Evaporation was not an important factor responsible for As enrichment. • As is mobilized in biogeochemical and reduction environment with ion exchange process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel nanocomposite film incorporating GO-CuO nanohybrids into BC was achieved. • The BC/GO-CuO composite showed a superior activity against gram-positive bacteria. • Antibacterial activity was attributed to cell membrane damage and ROS generation. • The BC/GO-CuO film exhibited good biocompatibility towards mice fibroblast cells. The absence of antibacterial activity of bacterial cellulose (BC) restricts its applications in the biomedical field. To introduce antimicrobial properties into BC, we studied the synthesis, structure, and antimicrobial properties of a novel nanocomposite film comprising BC, graphene oxide (GO), and copper-oxide (CuO) nanosheets. The nanocomposite film was synthesized by incorporating GO-CuO nanohybrids into BC matrix through homogenized blending. The CuO nanosheets, with a length range of 50 nm–200 nm and width range of 20 nm–50 nm, which were uniformly grown on the GO along with even distribution of GO-CuO nanohybrids on the surface of the cellulose fibers. The nanocomposites displayed better antibacterial activity against gram-positive than gram-negative bacteria. BC/GO-CuO nanocomposites showed higher antibacterial activity than BC/CuO. We also elucidated the mechanism of antibacterial activity of the nanocomposites. Further, the nanocomposites exhibited biocompatibility towards mice fibroblast cells. The nanocomposites might serve as an excellent source for development of antibacterial materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan, a country with limited water resources and highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, faces numerous challenges in managing its water supply. In this sense, this study assessed potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the surface water and sediments of Pakistan's Indus River and its tributaries. Key water quality parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were determined, with respective average values of 7.1, 40 μS/cm, and 208 mg L -1 . The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in surface water samples averaged 26 μg L -1 , 0.9 μg L -1 , 1.4 μg L -1 , 22 μg L -1 , and 2.1 μg L -1 , respectively. The general sediment PTE profile was Ni > Cd > Zn > Cu > Cr. Certain PTE levels exceeded recommended thresholds, indicating the establishment of environmental pollution. Calculated geo-accumulation index values suggested moderate to heavy pollution levels in sediment, with PERI (404) values reinforcing the ecological risk posed by elevated PTE concentrations. Furthermore, significant correlations were observed between specific PTE pairs in both water and sediment samples. This study contributes with novel insights into the distribution and ecological implications of PTE contamination in the Indus River and its tributaries, paving the way for ecological risk management efforts., 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.)

Epilepsy is one of the most frequent neurological illnesses caused by epileptic seizures and the second most prevalent neurological ailment after stroke, affecting millions of people worldwide. People with epileptic disease are considered a category of people with disabilities. It significantly impairs a person's capacity to perform daily tasks, especially those requiring focusing or remembering. Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are commonly used to diagnose people with epilepsy. However, it is tedious, time-consuming, and subjected to human errors. Several machine learning techniques have been applied to recognize epilepsy previously, but they have some limitations. This study proposes a deep neural network (DNN) machine learning model to determine the existing limitations of previous studies by improving the recognition efficiency of epileptic disease. A public dataset is used in this study and classified into training and testing sets. Experiments were performed to evaluate the DNN model with different dataset classification ratios (80:20), (70:30), (60:40), and (50:50) for training and testing, respectively. Results were evaluated by using different performance metrics including validations, and comparison processes that allow the assessment of the model's effectiveness. The experimental results showed that the overall efficiency of the proposed model is the highest compared with previous works, with an accuracy rate of 97%. Thus, this study is more accurate and efficient than the existing seizure detection approaches. DNN model has great potential for recognizing epileptic patient activity using a numerical EEG dataset offering a data-driven approach to improve the accuracy and reliability of seizure detection systems for the betterment of patient care and management of epilepsy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Khurshid, Wahid, Ali, Gumaei, Alzanin and Mosleh.)

Hemorrhage and bacterial infections are major hurdles in the management of life-threatening surgical wounds. Most bioadhesives for wound closure lack sufficient hemostatic and antibacterial properties. Furthermore, they suffer from weak sealing efficacy, particularly for stretchable organs, such as the lung and bladder. Accordingly, there is an unmet need for mechanically robust hemostatic sealants with simultaneous antibacterial effects. Here, an injectable, photocrosslinkable, and stretchable hydrogel sealant based on gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), supplemented with antibacterial zinc ferrite (ZF) nanoparticles and hemostatic silicate nanoplatelets (SNs) for rapid blood coagulation is nanoengineered. The hydrogel reduces the in vitro viability of Staphylococcus aureus by more than 90%. The addition of SNs (2% w/v) and ZF nanoparticles (1.5 mg mL -1 ) to GelMA (20% w/v) improves the burst pressure of perforated ex vivo porcine lungs by more than 40%. Such enhancement translated to ≈250% improvement in the tissue sealing capability compared with a commercial hemostatic sealant, Evicel. Furthermore, the hydrogels reduce bleeding by ≈50% in rat bleeding models. The nanoengineered hydrogel may open new translational opportunities for the effective sealing of complex wounds that require mechanical flexibility, infection management, and hemostasis., (© 2023 The Authors. Advanced Healthcare Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Constructing Van der Waals heterojunction is a crucial strategy to achieve excellent photocatalytic activity. However, in most Van der Waals heterojunctions synthesized by ex situ assembly, electron transfer encounters huge hindrances at the interface between the two components due to the large spacing and potential barrier. Herein, a phosphate-bridged Van der Waals heterojunction of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc)/tungsten disulfide (WS 2 ) bridged by phosphate (xCoPc-nPO 4 - -WS 2 ) is designed and prepared by the traditional wet chemistry method. By introducing a small phosphate molecule into the interface of CoPc and WS 2 , creates an electron "bridge", resulting in a compact combination and eliminating the space barrier. Therefore, the phosphate (PO 4 - ) bridge can serve as an efficient electron transfer channel in heterojunction and can efficiently transmit photoelectrons from WS 2 to CoPc under excited states. These excited photoelectrons are captured by the catalytic central Co 2+ in CoPc and subsequently convert CO 2 molecules into CO and CH 4 products, achieving 17-fold enhancement on the 3CoPc-0.6PO 4 - -WS 2 sample compared to that of pure WS 2 . Introducing a small molecule "bridge" to create an electron transfer channel provides a new perspective in designing efficient photocatalysts for photocatalytic CO 2 reduction into valuable products., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Dryopteris ramosa (family; Dryopteridaceae) has been reported for its medicinal importance in cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, and infections. The present study aimed to investigate the detailed phytochemical profile of D. ramosa and its cytotoxic potential using various cancer cell lines. The phytochemical profile of D. ramosa methanolic extract and its fractions were established by employing UHPLC-MS/MS and Global Natural Product Social (GNPS) molecular networking. Moreover, the cytotoxic activity of extract and fractions was evaluated against human liver (HepG-2) and prostate cancer (PC-3) cells using MTT assay. Overall, 18 compounds including flavonoids, flavonoid O -glycosides, isoflavone di- C -glycoside, flavanol, flavanone, rotenoid, phloroglucinol derivative, coumarin derivative, benzofuranone, abietic acid, and phenolic acid were observed as the major phytochemical bioactive constituents in the extract and fractions of D. ramosa . In MTT assay, chloroform fraction showed highest anti-proliferative activity against liver cancer cells (IC 50 = 53.49 μg/mL) followed by n -hexane fraction (IC 50 = 55.36 μg/mL), D. ramosa extract (IC 50 = 85.67 μg/mL) and ethyl acetate (IC 50 = 125.00 μg/mL) fraction. However, n -hexane and chloroform fractions presented maximum cytotoxic effect against prostate cancer cells with respective IC 50 values of 214.53 and 281.47 μg/mL. Moreover, all the tested samples showed negligible toxicity against non-cancer (BHK-21) cells. The results indicated that D. ramosa is rich in flavonoids, phloroglucinol derivative, and phenolic acids and showed positive results in cytotoxic studies, especially against liver cancer. Therefore, it can be considered safe for the development of anticancer drugs, especially against liver cancer., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic (SUS) membrane technology has attracted extensive attention for water purification. However, the fabrication of multifunctional membranes to satisfy the complex wastewater treatment is still a big challenge. In this work, bacterial cellulose (BC) based multifunctional SUS membranes were designed for water purification. Membranes were prepared by blending BC nanofibers with TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs), and further modified by the in situ growth of ZnO-NPs. The composite membranes showed oil/water (o/w) separation under a small driving pressure (0.2-0.3 bar) with a flux rate of 8232.81 ± 212 L m - 2 h -1 and with a high separation efficiency (>99.9%). Membranes could also separate oil-in-water emulsion with a separation flux of 1498 ± 74 L m - 2 h -1 and with high efficiency (99.25%). Moreover, the composite membrane exhibited photocatalytic activity under visible light with a high efficiency (>92%). The composite membranes were also investigated for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. This work may inspire the fabrication of next-generation multifunctional membranes for wastewater treatment, particularly oily wastewater, dyes and microbial contaminated water., 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 Inc. All rights reserved.)

The process of pneumonia detection has been the focus of researchers as it has proved itself to be one of the most dangerous and life-threatening disorders. In recent years, many machine learning and deep learning algorithms have been applied in an attempt to automate this process but none of them has been successful significantly to achieve the highest possible accuracy. In a similar attempt, we propose an enhanced approach of a deep learning model called restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM) which is named enhanced RBM (ERBM). One of the major drawbacks associated with the standard format of RBM is its random weight initialization which leads to improper feature learning of the model during the training phase, resulting in poor performance of the machine. This problem has been tried to eliminate in this work by finding the differences between the means of a specific feature vector and the means of all features given as inputs to the machine. By performing this process, the reconstruction of the actual features is increased which ultimately reduces the error generated during the training phase of the model. The developed model has been applied to three different datasets of pneumonia diseases and the results have been compared with other state of the art techniques using different performance evaluation parameters. The proposed model gave highest accuracy of 98.56% followed by standard RBM, SVM, KNN, and decision tree which gave accuracies of 97.53%, 92.62%, 91.64%, and 88.77%, respectively, for dataset named dataset 2. Similarly, for the dataset 1, the highest accuracy of 96.66 has been observed for the eRBM followed by srRBM, KNN, decision tree, and SVM which gave accuracies of 90.22%, 89.34%, 87.65%, and 86.55%, respectively. In the same way, the accuracies observed for the dataset 3 by eRBM, standard RBM, KNN, decision tree, and SVM are 92.45%, 90.98%, 87.54%, 85.49%, and 84.54%, respectively. Similar observations can also be seen for other performance parameters showing the efficiency of the proposed model. As revealed in the results obtained, a significant improvement has been observed in the working of the RBM by introducing a new method of weight initialization during the training phase. The results show that the improved model outperforms other models in terms of different performance evaluation parameters, namely, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F 1-score, and ROC curve., Competing Interests: No potential conflicts of interest have been declared by the authors., (Copyright © 2022 Fazli Wahid et al.)

Oil spill accidents and oily wastewater discharged by petrochemical industries have severely wasted water resources and damaged the environment. The use of special wetting materials to separate oil and water is efficient and environment-friendly. Cellulose is the most abundant renewable resource and has natural advantages in removing pollutants from oily wastewater. The application and modification of cellulose as special wetting materials have attracted considerable research attention. Therefore, we summarized cellulose-based superlipophilic/superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic/superoleophobic materials exhibiting special wetting properties for oil/water separation. The treatment mechanism, preparation technology, treatment effect, and representative projects of oil-bearing wastewater are discussed. Moreover, cellulose-based intelligent-responsive materials for application to oil/water separation and the removal of other pollutants from oily wastewater have also been summarized. The prospects and potential challenges of all the materials have been highlighted., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In calcareous soils, phosphorus (P) availability to plant is impaired due to the formation of insoluble complexes with calcium and magnesium. Therefore, this study was executed to compare the P use efficiency (PUE) of four different P sources [rock phosphate (RP), acidulated rock phosphate (ARP), single super phosphate (SSP) and di ammonium phosphate (DAP)] alone or pre-treated with organic amendments (farm yard manure (FYM) enriched compost, simple compost and humic acid (HA)) along with control in maize crop under calcareous soils. All treatments irrespective of P sources received 90 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 . Phosphorus application regardless of its sources and combination with organic amendments significantly improved maize growth, yield as well as P uptake and PUE. Rock phosphate when applied alone was recorded inferior but its performance significantly improved with compost or its pre-addition with FYM and HA, that further enhanced upon acidulation. Maize grain yield increased by 21, 22.2, 67.9 and 94% with RP, ARP, ARP enriched compost and ARP+ compost respectively, over control. Similarly, PUE of DAP improved from 31.7 to 43.1 and 39 with sample and enriched compost correspondingly. Post-harvest soil and grain P were at par for SSP, ARP and DAP alone or in conjugation with organic amendments when averaged across the amendments. These results suggested that pretreatment of P sources with organic amendments is an economical and more feasible approach to improve maize yield and PUE. Moreover, on-farm acidulation of RP may give at par results with SSP and DAP with cheaper rate and hence recommended for P management in maize in alkaline calcareous soils., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2021 Mussarat et al.)

Climate change is occurring and is influencing biological systems through augmented temperatures, more inconstant precipitation, and rising CO 2 in the atmosphere. For sustainable landscaping, it was essential to assess the diversity of native/wild grasses and their suitability for turf and to combat the salinity problem in the region. For this purpose, a native halophytic grass, Aeluropus lagopoides, was investigated by conducting mowing tests on its ecotypes during the year 2014-2016 under desert climatic conditions. The research was carried out in two phases, i.e. Phase-I was for collection and establishment of ecotypes from various parts of UAE, while in Phase-II, mowing tests were conducted. During mowing tests, 50 ecotypes of A. lagopoides were given various mowing treatments (i.e. they were cut back at 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-cm heights) in field conditions. Significant differences were found among various ecotypes for different agronomic parameters such as ground cover, canopy stiffness, leaf number, clippings fresh and dry weights and internode length. Overall, the grass exhibited better performance at mowing heights of 3 and 4 cm, which are the standard mowing heights for turfgrasses. Ecotypes FA5, RA3, RUDA2, RUDA7 and RUADA1 of A. lagopoides showed the best performance against mowing shock and became the candidates for the turfgrass varieties from the native Arabian flora.

The bacterial infections have always a serious problem to public health. Scientists are developing new antibacterial materials to overcome this problem. Polysaccharides are promising biopolymers due to their diverse biological functions, low toxicity, and high biodegradability. Chitin and chitosan have antibacterial properties due to their cationic nature, while cellulose/bacterial cellulose does not possess any antibacterial activity. Moreover, the insolubility of chitin in common solvents, the poor solubility of chitosan in water, and the low mechanical properties of chitosan have restricted their biomedical applications. In order to solve these problems, chemical modifications such as quaternization, carboxymethylation, cationization, or surface modification of these polymers with different antimicrobial agents, including metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, are carried out to obtain new materials with improved physiochemical and biological properties. This mini review describes the recent progress in such derivatives and composites with potential antibacterial applications.

Rosa indica L. belongs to the family Rosaceae and is locally known as gulaab. It has different traditional uses in cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disorders but there is no scientific data available in this regard. Therefore, the basic aim of this study was to explore the chemical composition and gastrointestinal and cardiovascular effects of the essential oil obtained from R. indica. The chemical composition of the essential oil was investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. The cardiovascular and gastrointestinal effects were investigated using electrophysiological measurements. The GC-MS analysis of the essential oil showed various chemical components including acetic acid, mercaptohexyl ester, butanoic acid, 2-methyl-5-oxo-1-cyclopentene-1-yl ester, artemiseole, methyl santonilate, isosteviol, caryophyllene oxide, pentyl phenyl acetate, dihydromyrcene, 1,5-octadecadien, octadecanoic acid, ethyl ester, palmitic acid (2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl methyl ester), santolina epoxide, and 9-farnesene. The electrophysiological measurements revealed that essential oil was more potent against K(+) (80 mM) than phenylephrine precontractions using isolated rabbit aorta preparations. In isolated rabbit jejunum preparations, it showed more potency against high K(+) induced contractions than spontaneous contractions. Considering these evidences, it can be concluded that R. indica essential oil may work as a complementary and alternative medicine in gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases.

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have the potential to enhance the efficacy of poorly soluble systemic drugs. Curcumin, a yellow pigment isolated from turmeric, possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anticancer effects. The anticancer potential of curcumin is mediated through the inhibition and modulation of several intracellular signaling pathways, as confirmed in various in vitro and in vivo cancer studies. However, clinical application of dietary curcumin for the treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases have been hindered by poor bioavailability, due to low systemic solubility as well as rapid metabolism and elimination from the body. Different techniques for sustained and efficient curcumin delivery, including nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, phospholipids, and curcumin-encapsulated polymer nanoparticles are the focus of this study. Previous studies have shown that nanocurcumin has improved anticancer effects as compared to normal curcumin formulations. Among nanoformulations, few composite nanosystems have the simultaneous properties of therapeutic activity and multifunctional nanoparticles as enhanced image contrast agents. We also address the challenges to the development of nanocurcumin delivery platforms by enhancing a steady aqueous dispersion state. Further studies are needed using preclinical and clinical cancer models to recommend nanocurcumin as a drug of choice for cancer therapy.