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Waste management, especially dump sites, are the most important problems in developing countries. For Al Misk Lake (Buraiman Lake), there is a threatening environmental problem, as for more than ten years this lake was used for the waste disposable site of Jeddah's sewage. Now it is abandoned, but the leachout of the contaminant is still problem. A concrete dam was constructed to block the migration of contaminants from the lake. The purpose of this research is to use the results of geophysical method integrated with the hydrogeological studies in delineating the contaminant layer emanating from the seepage of sewage water from Al Misk Lake to the end of Wadi after the concrete dam. Vertical electrical sounding was applied to determine the contaminated layer thickness in front and back of the dam. Also, the water samples were collected from some wells to support the results of geophysical method. Results of the vertical electrical sounding show that there is a seepage of contaminated water in front of the dam and the thickness of the contaminated layer at the back of the dam towards lake side is more than that in the front of dam. Whereas, the hydrogeological studies also show the concentration of ions, and TDS are more in back of the dam than in the front. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia is an essential chemical owing to its importance in fertilizer production and other industrial applications. Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia (NO 3 RR) holds great promise for low-temperature ammonia production while simultaneously addressing nitrate-based environmental concerns. To provide the mechanistic understanding needed to design an effective electrocatalyst, we systematically investigated the catalytic performance of metal-based dual-atom catalysts (DACs) anchored on two-dimensional (2D) expanded phthalocyanine (Pc) for NO 3 RR. We found that NO 3 RR can efficiently produce ammonia on Cr 2 -Pc, V 2 -Pc, Ti 2 -Pc, and Mn 2 -Pc surfaces with low limiting potentials of − 0.02, − 0.25, − 0.34, and − 0.41 V RHE , respectively. Moreover, using the free energy difference of *NO 3 - and *H as a descriptor, we found that the hydrogen evolution reaction is significantly suppressed on the DAC surface due to an ensemble effect in which the two metal atoms cooperate to selectively form ammonia. We performed high-throughput screening to develop an efficient metal-based DAC for NO 3 - reduction, followed by a mechanistic study to elucidate the NO 3 RR pathway on the DAC. This work provides design information for advancing sustainable ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions. [Display omitted] • High-throughput in silico screening of metal-based dual-atom catalyst for the electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia. • Cr 2 -Pc, V 2 -PC, Ti 2 -Pc, and Mn 2 -Pc are all predicted to have outstanding electrochemical performance for ammonia synthesis. • Dual metal atoms embedded in two-dimensional phthalocyanine strongly suppress the competing hydrogen evolution reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As wireless communication technology continues to advance, the number of intelligent devices, such as computers, mobile phones, and iPads, is increasing rapidly. To keep up with the growing demand for data and improved network efficiency, additional base stations (BSs) are deployed, and bandwidth allocation is being increased in the sixth-generation (6G) wireless network. While these improvements have enhanced the physical layer of wireless communication, deploying excessive BSs can be costly and may lead to issues such as backhaul congestion and decreased performance. Additionally, frequent and asynchronous access to popular information generates a significant amount of duplicate data, thereby wasting energy and processing resources. Therefore, we use content caching, which involves storing content at the network's edge, such as at BSs or terminal devices. This allows the direct delivery of content to requesters, eliminating the need for backhaul or core network transmission. In this survey paper, we examine state-of-the-art content caching techniques that are specifically designed for mobile edge computing environments. The article classifies the existing content caching scheme into various categories based on a set of parameters, including caching techniques, criteria, location, objective functions, and supporting algorithms. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis is conducted to investigate the critical aspects of existing schemes. Finally, the study identifies and discusses open research issues and challenges that necessitate further research to enhance content caching schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane-based technology has got of significant interest for its potential applications in water purification, desalination, gas separation, pervaporation, and solvent/water separation for a few decades, when environmental contamination is increasing in an uncontrolled manner due to several anthropogenic activities. However, it has several key challenges because of the diverse pore size, deprived mechanical property, thermal instability, and fouling concern. Recently, two-dimensional graphene oxide (GO) and its derivatives are deliberated as the most suitable material for membrane technology for water purification, and desalination applications due to its exceptional properties including single-layer thickness, large surface area, extraordinary chemical and mechanical properties. This review focuses on the recent progress on the fabrication methods used for GO-based membranes. The impact of modification and functionalization on the membrane's microstructural, and separation properties will be highlighted. Further, ionic and molecular separation applications of GO-based membranes will be discussed in detail. Finally, the challenges and future directions of such membranes will be summarized. [Display omitted] • Recent progress on GO based membranes for ionic and molecular separation are reviewed. • Role of fabrication methods on microstructural properties of membranes are summarized. • The effect of functionalization funcand modification on separation performance are also discussed. • Current engineering hurdles and future research direction are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential application of metallic Na anodes for high energy density batteries is plagued by dendrite formation accompanied by rapid consumption of electrolyte and Na metal. Herein, coaxially electrospun, hollow and mesoporous carbon nanofiber (HpCNF) hosts possessing strong affinity with Na are developed for Na metal batteries. The combined in situ and cryogenic microscopy along with theoretical simulations reveal that the highly sodiophilic HpCNFs with abundant defects and nitrogen functional groups enable compact, uniform plating of Na with excellent reversibility aided by the resilient, fluorine-rich SEI layer. Thanks to the optimized Na deposition in the entire structure, the Na@HpCNF anodes present an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.7% after 1,400 cycles at a current density of 3 mA cm−2 and a plating/striping capacity of 6 mAh cm−2. Their symmetric cell maintains stable cycles for over 1000 hr at 5 mA cm−2 and 5 mAh cm−2, which is among the best when compared with state-of-the-art electrodes. The full cells paired with a Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 2 F 3 cathode deliver remarkable specific capacities of 115 and 93 mAh cm−2 after 500 cycles at 1 C and 200 cycles at 4 C, respectively. These findings highlight new insight into rationally-designed metal anodes towards the development of high-performance metal batteries. The unique hollow and mesoporous carbon nanofibers with a superior sodiophilic character enable excellent electrochemical performance for sodium metal batteries. The correlation between host structure, surface chemistry and superior electrochemical performance is revealed by real-time Na metal deposition on nanofiber cells using in situ TEM and visualization of resilient, thin, fluorine-rich SEI using cryo-EM. [Display omitted] • Facile co-axial electrospinning approach to fabricate defect-abundant carbon hosts. • In situ TEM/SAED and melt infiltration experiments verify super-sodiophilicity. • Cryo - EM, depth profiling X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ToF-SIMS reveal a robust, thin, fluorine-rich SEI layer. • DFT calculations present uniform Na plating on defective, N-functionalized C while 3D dendritic morphology for graphitic C. • Exceptional electrochemical performance in half-cell, symmetric cell, and full cell configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale EVs acceptance would certainly lead to relieving major issues, including carbon pollution, petroleum dependence, and economic prosperity. However, Pakistan confronting a range of cross-sectoral and multifarious impediments has recently decided to switch from ICEs to EVs with a variety of policy options for auto manufacturers, customers, and worldwide stakeholders. This paper gives a detailed overview of ongoing EVs maturation and addresses some of the main adaptation challenges and opportunities in Pakistan. The review shows that state financial subsidies, market prices, technical malignancy, and social drawbacks are some of the most significant obstacles for EVs to join the current market. Hence, recommendations are stipulated in compliance with the corresponding obstacles to encourage the competence and expansion of the EVs industry which will contribute to more secure futures. On the other hand, Pakistan's transition to EVs offers some exciting milestones, there is a need to adopt a proactive and effective strategy to track the positive aspects of fast progress and optimize its benefits. • Current developments in EVs sector and adaptation scenario for Pakistan are reviewed. • Major obstacles confronting broad-based adoption of EVs are discussed in detail. • Statistical analysis and interactive visualization discussed various factors for EVs. • Substantiate future development opportunities of EVs lead to technological progress. • Recommended stratagems are advised to incorporate commitment from automotive sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original version of this article was revised: Seventh author "Faisal Rehman" was not appended in the article. The first and seventh author are the same, hence journal production thought that these were unintentionally provided. In addition, figure captions and citations were not arranged properly. Given in this article is the complete list of authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saudi Arabia is mainly characterized by desert landform with arid climate with severe scarcity of water. Groundwater is generally present within alluvial aquifers. In Saudi Arabia, treated and untreated sewage water is generally disposed of in the alluvial aquifers comprising of gravelly and sandy sediments. The disposal of treated and untreated water into alluvial aquifers is changing the groundwater quality of these aquifers to varying extent that rendered it unfit for drinking and irrigation purposes. It is not clear how much change in the groundwater quality takes place as a result of this disposal. This research compares the quality of treated and untreated sewage wastewater to determine its suitability for agriculture purpose. In total thirty three samples were collected from two different sites of Jeddah including 19 samples from Al Misk Lake (untreated sewage) and 14 samples from Wadi Fatima (treated sewage). T test indicates that the concentration of all major ions in treated and untreated sewage wastewater is significantly different (p < 0.05) except bicarbonate. Concentration of major ions in untreated sewage wastewater is much higher compared with treated sewage water except the bicarbonate. In Wadi Bani Malik area, Na and Cl are dominant cation and anion, respectively, in groundwater samples, whereas in Wadi Fatima area, Na is the most abundant cation like in Bani Malik area but in terms of anion CO3 and SO4 are most abundant anions followed by HCO3 and Cl. Cluster analysis results show that all treated wastewater samples are classified as one cluster, whereas the untreated wastewater samples are classified into three subgroups. Agricultural potential analysis results revealed that the untreated sewage wastewater is unsuitable for irrigation purpose, whereas the treated wastewater is suitable. This means that wastewater treatment plants can help to overcome the water shortage for agriculture purpose in the countries like Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Prolonged bleeding from arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) and arteriovenous grafts (AVG) associates with worse outcomes; Within the hemodialysis unit these outcomes include anemia and quality of life disruptions, and outside the hemodialysis unit includes fatal hemorrhage. However, various guidelines for AVF/AVG bleeding management inside and outside the hemodialysis unit lack consensus. Methods A scoping review was conducted of four databases, from inception to 17 February 2024. The study population was hemodialysis patients experiencing bleeding from AVF or AVG. Studies that assessed non-operative management were included. Results Sixteen studies met inclusion criteria. Most (14/16) addressed post-cannulation bleeding from AVF/AVG within the dialysis unit. Compared with standard dressings, hemostatic dressings (chitosan-, cellulose- or thrombin-based) decreased post-cannulation bleeding time at arterial and venous site 35.7%–84.0% (P  < .05) and 38.5%–78.7% (P  < .05), respectively. Use of chitosan-based dressings decreased percentage of patients bleeding 4-min post-cannulation by 16.3%–39.2%. One pilot observational study demonstrated no access thromboses or infections with short-term use of a compression device within the hemodialysis unit. However, the role of compression devices and tourniquets within the dialysis unit remains unclear, despite widespread use. Long-term AVF/AVG survival was not reported in any study. Limited research confirms that devices are effective in prevention of catastrophic out-of-hospital bleeding. It remains uncertain if device availability enhances patient confidence in managing out-of-hospital bleeding. This may impact patient choices around dialysis modality, access and transplant, but this remains uncertain. Conclusions In hemodialysis patents with bleeding from AVF/AVG, several alternative dressings or devices decrease post-cannulation bleeding time within the hemodialysis unit. Existing research has not established criteria on when it might be appropriate to use specialized dressings. There is very limited research on methods to control bleeding from AVF/AVG outside the hemodialysis unit. More data are required before evidence-based guidelines can be made. Recommendations for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method of charging mobile devices with wireless power transfer (WPT) from the base station (BS) integrated with mobile edge computing (MEC) increases the potential of MEC. The increasing demand for intelligent computation offloading requires effective decisions among local or remote computation specifically in wireless fading channels of the dynamic environment. Our main aim is to generate an effective offloading decision between local and remote computation in a real-time environment for each wireless channel while preserving optimal computation rate. In this article, we consider a wireless powered MEC system that governs a binary offloading decision to execute the task locally at the edge devices or the remote server. We propose a reinforcement learning based intelligent online offloading (RLIO) framework that adopts an optimal offloading action based on reinforcement methods. This framework acquires a worthy decision among local or remote computation for the time varying wireless channel conditions in dense networks. Numerical results show that the proposed framework can achieve optimal performance while preserving the computation time compared with existing optimization methods. Second, the average execution cost of RLIO is less than 0.4 ms per channel, which enables real-time and optimal offloading in dynamic and large-scale networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, researchers have applied blockchain technology in vehicular networks to take benefit of its security features, such as confidentiality, authenticity, immutability, integrity, and non-repudiation. The resource-intensive nature of the blockchain consensus algorithm makes it a challenge to integrate it with vehicular networks due to the time-sensitive message dissemination requirements. Moreover, most of the researchers have used the Proof-of-Work consensus algorithm, or its variant to add a block to a blockchain, which is a highly resource-intensive process with greater latency. In this paper, we propose a consensus algorithm for vehicular networks named as Vehicular network Based Consensus Algorithm (VBCA) to ensure data security across the network using blockchain that maintains a secured pool of confirmed messages exchanged in the network. The proposed scheme, based on a consortium blockchain, reduces average transaction latency, and increases the number of confirmed transactions in a decentralized manner, without compromising the integrity and security of data. The simulation results show improved performance in terms of confirmed transactions, transaction latency, number of blocks, and block creation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile edge computing (MEC) enables intelligent content caching at the network edge to reduce traffic and enhance content delivery efficiency. In MEC architecture, popular content can be deployed at the MEC server to improve users' quality of experience (QoE). Existing content caching techniques attempt to improve cache hits but do not consider users' preferences while estimating the popularity of content. Knowing users' preferences is beneficial and essential for efficient content caching. This paper proposes Content Popularity and User Preferences aware content caching (CoPUP) in MEC. The proposed scheme uses content-based collaborative filtering first to analyze the user-content matrix and identify the relationships between different contents. The convolution neural network model (CNN) is used to predict users' preferences. The CoPUP significantly improves cache performance, enhances cache hit ratio, and reduces response time. The simulation experiments are conducted based on the real dataset from Movielens. The proposed CoPUP technique is compared with three baseline techniques namely Least Frequently Used (LFU), Least Recently Used (LRU), First-In-First-Out (FIFO) and a state-of-the-art technique Mobility-Aware Proactive edge caching scheme based on federated learning (MPCF). The experimental results reveal that the proposed model achieves 2% higher cache hit ratio and faster response time compared with baseline and state-of-the-art techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of wastewater with dye ions is a serious threat to the environment, thus making its removal exigent, for which adsorbent has proved very useful. In this study, magnetized activated carbon (MAC) was synthesized from eucalyptus leaves with simultaneous magnetization with K 2 CO 3 and FeCl 3 that increased the surface area and porosity of eucalyptus carbon (EC). The adsorption behavior of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) by MAC was investigated and characterized before and after the adsorption to investigate the effects of pH, initial dye ion concentration, MAC dose, adsorption time and temperature on the adsorption effect. The results showed that the amount of MO adsorbed on MAC increased from 50 mg/g to 205 mg/g, and the amount of MB adsorbed increased from 50 mg/g to 289 mg/g with the increase of the initial concentration. The results of the fitted adsorption process are consistent with the pseudo-secondary, Langmuir and D-R models, which indicate a predominantly chemisorption accompanied by physical adsorption and monolayer adsorption, a spontaneous heat absorption process that may occur through ion exchange, electrostatic interaction and surface complexation. The high adsorption capacity and magnetic properties of MAC make it a potential adsorbent for dye wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] • Eucalyptus charcoal was endowed with magnetic properties using K 2 CO 3 and FeCl 3 to produce MAC. • MAC well adsorb cationic dye MB and anionic dye MO. • The adsorption capacity of MAC for MB and MO was quadrupled after modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Vascular calcification is prevalent in chronic kidney disease patients. • ABCC6 is a candidate gene for vascular calcification seen in kidney disease. • ABCC6 variants cause a pseudoxanthoma elasticum phenotype with calcification. • Pathogenic ABCC6 variants are more common in calcification patients than controls. • ABCC6 and ENPP1 in the ectopic calcification pathway may be digenic. Vascular calcification is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Genetic causes of CKD account for 10–20% of adult-onset disease. Vascular calcification is thought to be one of the most important risk factors for increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in CKD patients and is detectable in 80% of patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD). Despite the high prevalence of vascular calcification in CKD, no single gene cause has been described. We hypothesized that variants in vascular calcification genes may contribute to disease pathogenesis in CKD, particularly in families who exhibit a predominant vascular calcification phenotype. We developed a list of eight genes that are hypothesized to play a role in vascular calcification due to their involvement in the ectopic calcification pathway: ABCC6, ALPL, ANK1, ENPP1, NT5E, SLC29A1, SLC20A2, and S100A12. With this, we assessed exome data from 77 CKD patients, who remained unsolved following evaluation for all known monogenic causes of CKD. We also analyzed an independent cohort (Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (ONDRI), n = 520) who were screened for variants in ABCC6 and compared this to a control cohort of healthy adults (n = 52). We identified two CKD families with heterozygous pathogenic variants (R1141X and A667fs) in ABCC6. We identified 10 participants from the ONDRI cohort with heterozygous pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in ABCC6. Replication in a healthy control cohort did not reveal any variants. Our study provides preliminary data supporting the hypothesis that ABCC6 may play a role in vascular calcification in CKD. By screening CKD patients for genetic causes early in the diagnostic pathway, patients with genetic causes associated with vascular calcification can potentially be preventatively treated with new therapeutics with aims to decrease mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with the depositional facies, diagenetic processes and sequence stratigraphy of the shallow marine carbonates of the Samana Suk Formation, Kohat Basin, in order to elucidate its reservoir quality. The Samana Suk Formation consists of thin to thick‐bedded, oolitic, bioclastic, dolomitic and fractured limestone. Based on the integration of outcrop, petrographic and biofacies analyses, the unit is thought to have been deposited on a gentle homoclinal ramp in peritidal, lagoonal and carbonate shoal settings. Frequent variations in microfacies based sea‐level curve have revealed seven Transgressive Systems Tracts (TSTs) and six Regressive Systems Tracts (RSTs). The unit has undergone various stages of diagenetic processes, including mechanical and chemical compaction, cementation, micritization, dissolution and dolomitization. The petrographic analyses show the evolution of porosity in various depositional and diagenetic phases. The fenestral porosity was mainly developed in peritidal carbonates during deposition, while the burial dissolution and diagenetic dolomitization have greatly enhanced the reservoir potential of the rock unit, as is further confirmed by the plug porosity and permeability analyses. The porosities and permeabilities were higher in shoal facies deposited in TSTs, as compared to lagoonal and peritidal facies, except for the dolomite in mudstone, deposited during RSTs. Hence good, moderate and poor reservoir potential is suggested for shoal, lagoonal and peritidal facies, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promising technique of Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) to end devices and sensors has gained the attention of researchers recently. Mobile edge computing (MEC) is also succeeding from Cloud Computing due to its minimum latency constraints. In MEC, smart devices offload computation intensive tasks to the MEC server which achieves low latency. However, limitations exist for smart device battery lifetime and task execution delay because of an effective decision in the offloading scenario necessitating joint WPT and MEC offloading. The joint WPT and MEC offloading decisions are based on real time application requirements, placement of Base Station (BS) with power transfer capabilities for smart devices, and offloading opportunities in the MEC. To meet the energy consumption requirement, a BS integrated with MEC server and power transfer capability transfers wireless power to end devices as an incentive and offers opportunities for offloading. Transferring wireless power to end devices effectively meets the requirement of smart devices while extending battery lifetime. This article encapsulates the state of art work in methodologies of offloading in MEC and WPT to end nodes. We consider MEC offloading techniques with WPT and real time application requirements while summarizing related studies. We formulate a taxonomy of joint WPT and offloading in MEC. We compare the state-of-the-art studies based on parameters identified from taxonomy. Finally, we provide the challenges and debate future research directions relevant to the domain of joint MEC-WPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-soluble luminescent lanthanide complexes that can be excited with visible light could enable rapid detection of toxic anions and cations in biological systems. Eu3+-induced hyaluronic acid-chitosan aggregates (EIHCA) can improve the stability, biocompatibility, efficiency, and light absorption of luminescent Eu3+ complexes. Visible-range excitation may avoid phototoxicity associated with overexposure to UV light in biological and ecological applications. In this work, we synthesized and characterized series of EIHCA complexes having three N -donor heterocyclic ligands: 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Dphen), 2,2′: 6′,2″-terpyridine (Tpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline monohydrate (Phen). These complexes possessed bright red fluorescence with a visible range excitation maximum. The photophysical properties of one formulation (we denote as EDL6) include fast quenching response (20 s) of the fluorescence, multi-selectivity, low limit of detection, and high quenching (K sv) values, enabling selective, rapid and sensitive recognition of Cr 2 O 7 2− and Fe3+ in aqueous solution. Furthermore, EDL6 exhibits cytocompatibility with mammalian cells that make these complexes promising biocompatible candidate as a safe replacement of organic fluorophores for fluorescence sensing applications. Thus, these new EIHCA complexes were successfully employed for the selective detection of hazardous materials in biological and aqueous environment samples. [Display omitted] • Eu3+-induced hyaluronic acid-chitosan aggregate containing a combination of N -heterocyclic ligands, were synthesized. • These nanoparticles serve as fluorescent sensors with visible-range excitation, water stability and bio-compatibility. • Eu3+-complexes are fast and multi-responsive fluorescence sensors to detect Cr(VI) and Fe(III) in water. • Eu3+-fluorescent complex exhibits cell membrane permeability enabling detection of ions in live cell cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fluorescent Eu3+ complexes are proposed as selective transition metal ion sensors with visible-light excitation. • The lifetime decay and quantum yield of complex particles are 442.53 μs and 59.12 %, respectively. • The complexes with polysaccharides enable compatibilization with aqueous samples. • The fluorescent complexes have good cytocompatibility and cell membrane permeability enabling intracellular ion detection. Fluorescent lanthanide complexes have favorable features for fluorescence-based sensors compared to organic fluorophores and quantum dots. They exhibit very long fluorescence lifetimes, sharp emission bands, and stability with respect to photo-bleaching, without blinking. However, these complexes are usually hydrophobic, and many are excited by UV light, making them hazardous and incompatible with aqueous environments and biological samples. In this work, the strong fluorescent Eu3+-induced aggregates of polysaccharides (EIAP) was used to improve their aqueous solubility, and to tune the appropriate excitation wavelength in the visible range for avoiding toxicity of UV light in biological applications. The complexes exhibit bright fluorescence with an excitation maximum in the visible range, near 405 nm. EIAP 3 also exhibit rapid quenching response in the presence of transition metal ions. This enables the detection of Cu2+ and Fe3+ below 1 ppm. The reverse of quenching response of copper by the addition of a chelating agent makes it possible to recover the fluorescence property. Successfully, the EIAP exhibit cytocompatibility with mammalian cells. Thus, these new polysaccharide-based complexes have the potential for rapid, sensitive and selective metal ion sensors for the environmental systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of the acidic and weak ionic conductor polystyrenesulfonate (PSS) in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene:PSS (PEDOT:PSS) leads to degradation and limits the charge transfer within quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). Two-step solvent treatment resulted in a 40% reduction of PSS, which could be attributed to ethylene glycol (EG) attenuating the ionic interactions between PSS and PEDOT via interacting with PSS through hydrogen bonding. Methanol dissolved the predominant PSS and EG from the surface. The redshift of the peak representing the symmetrical vibration of Cα═Cβ in the Raman spectrum confirmed the conformation of benzoid structure to quinoid structure after the surface treatment. This conformation was attributed to the extension of the conjugation length and the reduction of the energy barrier within the PEDOT chain. This resulted in the improved conductivity and charge hopping of the PEDOT:PSS, which was also proven using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Reducing the insulating and acidic PSS improved the electroluminescence performance and extended the operational lifetime of the QLEDs. The tris(dimethylamino)phosphine-based InP QLEDs exhibited an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 6.4%, that value is comparable to those of tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphine-based QLEDs, and operational lifetime (T 50 ) of 125.6 h.

M 5 C 4 T x MXenes represent the most recently discovered and least studied subfamily of out-of-plane ordered double transition metal carbides with 11 atomic layers, probably the thickest of all 2D materials. Molybdenum (Mo) and vanadium (V) in Mo 4 VC 4 T x offer multiple oxidation states, making this MXene potentially attractive for electrochemical energy storage applications. Herein, we evaluated the electrochemical properties of Mo 4 VC 4 T x free-standing thin films in acidic, basic, and neutral aqueous electrolytes and observed the highest gravimetric capacitance of 219 F g -1 at 2 mV s -1 in a 3 M H 2 SO 4 . Further, we investigated the intercalation states of four different cations (H + , Li + , Na + , and K + ) in MXenes through ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulation and used density functional theory (DFT) calculations to assess the charge storage mechanisms in different electrolytes. These studies show hydrated Li + , Na + , and K + ions forming an electric double layer (EDL) at the MXene surface as the primary charge storage mechanism. This work shows the promise of Mo 4 VC 4 T x MXene for energy storage in aqueous electrolytes.

Despite substantial advances in cancer biology and treatment, the clinical outcomes of patients with lung cancer remain unsatisfactory. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a potential target. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we could distinguish eight distinct cell types in the lung cancer microenvironment, demonstrating substantial intratumoral heterogeneity in 19 different lung cancer tumor samples. Through the re-dimensional grouping of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), myeloid cells, epithelial cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and T cells, the difference in the TME of lung cancer was revealed. We discovered SFTPB, SFN, and KRT8 as possible predictive biomarkers for lung cancer by assessing the gene expression patterns in epithelial cells. Examining cell-to-cell communications showed a robust association between the quantity of matrix CAFs, epithelial cells, and macrophages in the thrombospondin signaling pathway. Additionally, we found that the amyloid precursor protein signaling pathway primarily originated from the matrix, and inflammatory cancer-associated endothelial and fibroblast cells showed a co-expression relationship with myeloid cells and B cells. Through cell-to-cell correlation analysis, we found positive regulation between NK cells, regulatory T cells, GZMB-CD8 T cells, and GZMK-CD8 T cells, which could play a role in developing immune TMEs. These findings support studies on cancer heterogeneity and add to our understanding of lung cancer's cellular microenvironment., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The purpose of this study is to examine the viability, precision, and consistency of a computer-based optokinetic nystagmus analyzer (nystagmus meter) for diagnosing eyesight in preschoolers. A total of 59 subjects who could pass the log of minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) visual acuity chart were divided into three groups by age, 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old groups, and their visual acuity was tested with nystagmus meter. The percentage of children in each age group that could be detected by nystagmus was recorded along with the differences between these groups. The correlation between the test results from the two methods was found for each age group using the correlation coefficient method. Repeated measurements were used to assess the two visual acuity values of the measured nystagmus, and the repeatability of the two measurement techniques for different age groups was compared. The overall measurability of the visual acuity detected by nystagmus was 93.22%, and the measurability of the 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old groups was 90%, 95%, and 94.74%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the measurability of subjects among all age groups (P = 1.0). The outcomes of the LogMAR visual acuity chart had a negative correlation with the visual acuity measured by the nystagmus meter. The overall correlation coefficient R value was -0.80, and the correlation coefficient R value of the 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old groups was -0.79, -0.76, and -0.87, respectively. The nystagmus meter has good feasibility, accuracy, and stability in visual acuity testing and can be used for visual acuity testing in children., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Indian Journal of Ophthalmology.)

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease that is commonly seen in older people but often neglected due to its silent nature. To overcome the issue of osteoporosis in men and women, we proposed an advanced prediction model with the help of machine learning techniques which can help to identify the potential occurrence of this bone disease by its advanced screening tools. To achieve more reliable and accurate results, various machine-learning techniques were applied to the presented data sets. Moreover, we also compared the performance of our results with other existing algorithms to solely focus on the advanced features of the proposed methodology. The two data sets, the clinical tests of patients in Taiwan and medical reports of postmenopausal women in Korea through Korean Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2010-2011) were considered in this study. To predict bone disorders, we utilized the data about females and developed a system using artificial neural networks, support vector machines, and K-nearest neighbor. To compare the performance of the model Area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve and other evaluation metrics were compared. The achieved results from all the algorithms and compared them with Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians and the results were noticeably better and more reliable than existing systems due to the involvement of ML. Using machine learning techniques to predict these types of diseases is better because physicians and patients can take early action to prevent the consequences in advance., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: Trastuzumab emtansine(T-DM1) and trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd, formerly DS-8201a), the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), are commonly used in metastatic breast cancer. However, their real-world safety profile has not been adequately compared. Objective: We aimed to investigate the adverse event (AE) profile of T-DM1 and T-DXd reported by the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Methods: All indications were searched for T-DM1 and T-DXd, as primary suspected drugs, from FAERS data (January 2004 to June 2023). Disproportionality analyses were performed by reporting odds ratios (ROR) and proportional reporting ratio (PRR). The odds ratio (OR) of fatal AEs associated with T-DM1 and T-DXd under different exposure factors were performed by univariate and multivariate logistical regression analysis. Results: 3723 and 2045 reports of T-DM1 and T-DXd were submitted to FAERS. Finally, 94 and 61 significant signals for T-DM1 and T-DXd were systematically analyzed. The valid AEs with the highest frequency and the strongest signal intensity for T-DM1 were platelet count decreased (n=108) and hepatopulmonary syndrome (ROR=680.42), respectively. Interstitial lung disease (n=262, ROR=82.55) and pneumonitis (n=89, ROR = 48.34) showed both high frequency and strong signal intensity for T-DXd. The proportion of AEs in each SOC system was different. T-DM1 had a greater proportion of valid AEs in the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, hepatobiliary system, ocular system, cardiac system and hematologic system( p <0.05). T-DXd had a greater proportion of valid AEs in the skin disorders, respiratory system, infestations, general system and gastrointestinal system( p <0.05). Furthermore, the analysis of fatal AEs in four systems revealed that T-DXd exhibited a significantly higher proportion of fatal outcomes in the hematologic and respiratory system compared to T-DM1. Conversely, T-DM1 had a significantly higher proportion of fatal outcomes in the hepatobiliary system. Neither T-DM1 nor T-DXd exhibited a high mortality ratio in the cardiac system. Logistic regression analysis indicated that advanced age (≥65 years) and male gender were identified as independent risk factors of fatal AEs for both T-DM1 and T-DXd. Additionally, the drug combination therapy, particularly with a CYP3A4 inhibitor, was found to be a risk factor for fatal AEs specifically related to T-DXd. Conclusions: Hematological and respiratory toxicity of T-DXd and hepatobiliary toxicity of T-DM1 exhibited a high incidence of fatal outcomes. It is crucial to identify high-risk factors and enhance the monitoring of AEs during clinical application., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

The incidence and factors related to mobile phone addiction among Chinese medical students were analyzed through meta-analysis. Chinese literature databases (such as China Knowledge Network and VIP Information Resource System) and English literature databases (such as PubMed and Web of Science) were searched for cross-sectional studies on the incidence and factors related to mobile phone addiction, and the required data were extracted. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model with RevMan 5.3 statistical software, and publication bias was tested with Stata 12.0. A total of 20 studies were included, including 36,365 study subjects. Among them, there were 10,597 cases of mobile phone addiction with an incidence of 29.14%. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the combined OR values (95% CI) of the factors were: gender 1.070 (1.030-1.120), residence 1.118 (1.090-1.146), school type 1.280 (1.241-1.321), mobile phone use time 1.098 (1.068-1.129), sleep quality 1.280 (1.288-1.334), self-perception of learning 0.737 (0.710-0.767), and family relationship 0.821 (0.791-0.852). The study showed that being a male student from cities and towns, being at a vocational college, excessive use of mobile phones, and poor sleep quality were the risk factors for mobile phone addiction among medical students in China. Positive self-perception of learning and family relationships were protective factors, and more related factors are still controversial and need to be further explored and confirmed., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2023.)

The objective of this study was to investigate the significance of portal vein reconstruction in segment IV of the liver on early postoperative liver function recovery in split liver transplantation. The clinical data of patients of right trilobe split liver transplantation in our center were analyzed and divided into two groups, including a group without portal vein reconstruction and a group with portal vein reconstruction. Clinical data of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), albumin (ALB), creatinine (Cr), total bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT), lactic acid (Lac), and international normalized ratio (INR) levels were analyzed. The technique of segment IV portal vein reconstruction is beneficial to the early postoperative recovery of liver function. Statistically, there was no significant effect of portal vein reconstruction in the IV segment of the liver on the recovery of liver function within 1 week after split liver transplantation. There was no significant difference in survival rate between the control group and reconstruction group over the 6 months follow-up period after surgery., 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 © 2023 Muhammad, Rehman, Wang, Xiong, Lianghao and Jinzhen.)

After February 2020, the majority of the world's governments decided to implement a lockdown in order to limit the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. This restriction improved air quality by reducing emissions of particular atmospheric pollutants from industrial and vehicular traffic. In this study, we look at how the COVID-19 shutdown influenced the air quality in Lahore, Pakistan. HAC Agri Limited, Dawn Food Head Office, Phase 8-DHA, and Zeenat Block in Lahore were chosen to give historical data on the concentrations of many pollutants, including PM2.5, PM10 (particulate matter), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), and O3 (ozone). We use a variety of models, including decision tree, SVR, random forest, ARIMA, CNN, N-BEATS, and LSTM, to compare and forecast air quality. Using machine learning methods, we looked at how each pollutant's levels changed during the lockdown. It has been shown that LSTM estimates the amounts of each pollutant during the lockout more precisely than other models. The results show that during the lockdown, the concentration of atmospheric pollutants decreased, and the air quality index improved by around 20%. The results also show a 42% drop in PM2.5 concentration, a 72% drop in PM10 concentration, a 29% drop in NO2 concentration, and an increase of 20% in O3 concentration. The machine learning models are assessed using the RMSE, MAE, and R-SQUARE values. The LSTM measures NO2 at 4.35%, O3 at 8.2%, PM2.5 at 4.46%, and PM10 at 8.58% in terms of MAE. It is observed that the LSTM model outperformed with the fewest errors when the projected values are compared with the actual values., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2023 Zukaib et al.)

Machine learning (ML) can enhance a dermatologist's work, from diagnosis to customized care. The development of ML algorithms in dermatology has been supported lately regarding links to digital data processing (e.g., electronic medical records, Image Archives, omics), quicker computing and cheaper data storage. This article describes the fundamentals of ML-based implementations, as well as future limits and concerns for the production of skin cancer detection and classification systems. We also explored five fields of dermatology using deep learning applications: (1) the classification of diseases by clinical photos, (2) der moto pathology visual classification of cancer, and (3) the measurement of skin diseases by smartphone applications and personal tracking systems. This analysis aims to provide dermatologists with a guide that helps demystify the basics of ML and its different applications to identify their possible challenges correctly. This paper surveyed studies on skin cancer detection using deep learning to assess the features and advantages of other techniques. Moreover, this paper also defined the basic requirements for creating a skin cancer detection application, which revolves around two main issues: the full segmentation image and the tracking of the lesion on the skin using deep learning. Most of the techniques found in this survey address these two problems. Some of the methods also categorize the type of cancer too.

Ibuprofen is potentially toxic and carcinogenic for freshwater ecosystems and poses a serious threat to human health by affecting kidney function. The present study focused on the sunlight-controlled degradation of ibuprofen from water using a novel magnetically separable cerium oxide-embedded bismuth ferrite heterostructure. Catalysts were synthesized by solvothermal and co-precipitation methods and characterized by X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis optical absorption spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption. This study investigated the effect of photocatalysis, sonolysis, sonophotolysis, and sonophotocatalysis on the degradation of ibuprofen in water. Pseudo-first-order and second-order kinetics were applied to evaluate the rate of reaction for ibuprofen degradation. The addition of 5% CeO 2 to the BiFeO 3 significantly increased the surface area and pore volume of bismuth ferrite, which enhanced their photocatalytic degradation efficiency by 2.28 times in terms of ibuprofen mineralization. Sonolysis treatment alone and in combination with photolysis led to the degradation of ibuprofen, but with the formation of intermediate products. Positive synergy was observed when sonolysis was combined with photocatalysis in terms of the mineralization of ibuprofen and the degradation of intermediates along with their parent compound. It was proposed that, compared to photocatalytic mineralization, the ultrasound-assisted advanced oxidation process resulted in the conversion of ibuprofen to its mineralization products., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work presented in this paper., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Graphene oxide (GO)-based membranes with tunable microstructure and controlled nanochannels have attracted an increasing interest for various applications in wastewater treatment, desalination, gas separation, organic nanofiltration, etc. However, they showed limited use in water desalination due to their lower stability and separation efficiency. In this work, a class of two-dimensional (2D) GO lamellar membranes have been prepared with controlled pores for efficient and fast separation of ions and dye molecules. The GO membranes are fucntionalized with a star-like 6-armed poly(ethylene oxide) using the simple amidation route under mild conditions. The as-prepared covalently cross-linked networks are chemically steady in aqueous medium and show remarkable selectivity (∼100%) for several probe molecules and 10-100 higher permeance than those of the reported GO-based membranes. Further, such membranes are also used for salt separation and show more than 80% rejection for Pb 2+ and Ni 2+ salts. Moreover, a 1360 nm-thick membrane shows >99% rejection for NaCl with a good water permeance of up to 120 L m -2 h -1 bar -1 . Additionally, these membranes are stable for more than 20 days under different conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Recently, natural dyes have a widening scope in various traditional and advanced applications due to their eco-friendly environment. However, improved dyeability of natural dyes still remains a challenging task. This research was aimed to achieve multi-objective wool with improved dyeability using bio-nano-mordant composed of m-Trans-glutaminase, m-TGase, and bentonite nanoclay. Wool fiber was treated through sonochemical method using different concentrations of m-TGase and bentonite. The surface morphology of wool fabric samples was examined by field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Fourier transform Infrared Radiation (FTIR). Further, wool samples treated at different conditions were applied to madder for dyeability examination. The optimum conditions of color coordinates, color strength, K/S, and washing fastness of madder on treated wool fabric with m-TGase and bentonite, were also examined. The results revealed well-made interactions among m-TGase, bentonite, and wool fibers. In addition, surface morphology was strongly influenced by variations in enzyme concentrations so that extra addition of m-TGase lead to clear damage scales or less cuticle surface in SEM images. Moreover, the results showed that the value of K/S for treated wool samples was better than untreated samples. Indeed, amongst all, 5% concentrations of bio-nano-mordant for m-TGase and bentonite have the most constructive K/S values. Similarly, results of Δ E and antibacterial investigations also confirmed its superiority., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Optical and electrical characteristics of wide bandgap metal oxides, namely the charge mobility, bandgap and energy level, directly define the performance and stability of photovoltaics. For the first time, novel three-dimensional (3D) hierarchically structured cauliflower-shaped SnO 2 nanospheres with nanorods on their surface were obtained by a simple hydrothermal method without any additives at low temperature. The obtained hierarchically structured SnO 2 nanospheres show large specific surface areas, proven to be efficient for sensitizer loading in both perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The nanospheres could improve light harvesting and also enhance electron transport through the grain boundaries. Ultimately, a maximum power conversion efficiency of 10.37% is obtained for 3D hierarchically structured SnO 2 nanosphere-based DSSCs in which SnO 2 is used as the scattering layer, and a remarkable efficiency of 20.01% is achieved when 3D hierarchically structured SnO 2 nanospheres are employed as the electron transport material in PSCs. We trust that our work provides a new insight into construction and structural design of highly efficient hybrid photovoltaics., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Objective: To develop and test a Medline filter that allows clinicians to search for articles within a clinical discipline, rather than searching the entire Medline database., Design: Diagnostic test assessment framework with development and validation phases., Setting: Sample of 4657 articles published in 2006 from 40 journals. Reviews Each article was manually reviewed, and 19.8% contained information relevant to the discipline of nephrology. The performance of 1 155 087 unique renal filters was compared with the manual review., Main Outcome Measures: Sensitivity, specificity, precision, and accuracy of each filter., Results: The best renal filters combined two to 14 terms or phrases and included the terms "kidney" with multiple endings (that is, truncation), "renal replacement therapy", "renal dialysis", "kidney function tests", "renal", "nephr" truncated, "glomerul" truncated, and "proteinuria". These filters achieved peak sensitivities of 97.8% and specificities of 98.5%. Performance of filters remained excellent in the validation phase., Conclusions: Medline can be filtered for the discipline of nephrology in a reliable manner. Storing these high performance renal filters in PubMed could help clinicians with their everyday searching. Filters can also be developed for other clinical disciplines by using similar methods.