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ABSTRACT Sudan relies heavily on refined petroleum products for electricity generation, excluding hydropower, contributing to environmental degradation through petroleum combustion. This challenge underscores the need to expand renewable energy utilization. This paper reviews the current status and future potential of renewable energy in Sudan. While hydropower generates approximately 54.6% of Sudan's electricity, other renewable sources contribute only 0.78% to the national grid. Sudan's hydropower capacity stands at 1907 MW, with plans to add 2197 MW. As a Sunbelt country, Sudan has immense solar energy potential, yet it has only constructed a 10‐MW solar PV plant (5 MW on‐grid). Two additional 10‐MW solar projects are under construction, and the government aims to install 2190 MW of grid‐connected solar PV and 50 MW of solar thermal energy by 2035. Wind energy remains underutilized, with a single 0.8‐MW wind turbine connected to the grid, although a 100‐MW wind power plant is under construction. The government envisions 1550 MW of wind capacity by 2035. Bioenergy capacity, predominantly from sugar industry co‐generation, totals 199 MW, with less than 20 MW on‐grid. Plans aim to install 270 MW of grid‐connected bioenergy by 2032. Despite possessing geothermal potential in the Red Sea region, no geothermal plants have been installed. However, 54 MW of geothermal projects are planned by 2030. Additionally, Sudan's nuclear energy program targets two 600‐MW reactors by 2030, while tidal energy projects could contribute 1.2 TWh annually to the grid. These initiatives aim to diversify Sudan's energy mix and enhance the country's sustainability.

Background: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease with unknown aetiology that may be associated with the defect in proliferation and differentiation of the keratinocytes related to inflammatory cell infiltration. According to published reports, it is universal in occurrence; its prevalence in different populations varies from 0.1% to 11.8%. Receiving Apremilast resulted in a strong reduction in interleukin 17 and interleukin 23, as well as reduced expression of other inflammatory cytokines and improvement of psoriatic lesions. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of Apremilast on levels of IL-17, IL-23, and lipids in obese psoriatic patients. Methods: Thirty obese patients with psoriasis were included in this prospective interventional study to measure serum levels of lipid profile, IL-17, and IL-23, before and after receiving Apremilast treatment. A t-test was used to compare between means. Results: The mean age of the participants was 38 years. The most common age group was 30–40 years. The levels of IL-17 before the administration of Apremilast were 225.55 ± 7.70 pg/mL. After six months of treatment with Apremilast, a statistically significant reduction was seen, with the value decreasing to 183.41 ±2.33 pg/ml. IL-22 levels before the administration of Apremilast were measured to be 76.42 ± 4.03 pg/mL. After six months of treatment with Apremilast, these levels exhibited a non-significant decrease to 67.15 ± 5.40 pg/ml. Modest alterations were noted in the lipid profile. Conclusion: The use of Apremilast is effective in decreasing IL-17 levels, which have pro-inflammatory effects; this leads to improvement in psoriatic lesions. Moreover, receiving Apremilast in obese psoriatic individuals led to a reduction in TG levels and an elevation in HDL-C levels. Additionally, a rise in TC levels and LDL-C was seen.

Accurately predicting thermo-physical properties (TPPs) of MXene/graphene-based nanofluids is crucial for photovoltaic/thermal solar systems, driving focused research on developing precise TPP predictive models. This study presents optimized multi-layer perceptron neural network (MLPNN) models, leveraging Bayesian optimization to refine architectural and training hyperparameters, including hidden layers, neurons, activation functions, standardization, and regularization terms. A comparative analysis of Bayesian acquisition functions—the probability of improvement (POI), lower confidence bound (LCB), expected improvement (EI), expected improvement plus (EIP), expected improvement per second plus (EIPSP), and expected improvement per second (EIPS)—demonstrated that the POI-MLPNN achieves the most accurate results, as evidenced by the lowest MAPE of 1.0923 % and exceptional consistency with an R-value of 0.99811. The EI-MLPNN and EIP-MLPNN models recorded the same outputs. The EI/EIP-MLPNN (R = 0.99668) model excels in consistency over LCB-MLPNN (R = 0.99529) and EIPSP-MLPNN (R = 0.99667). The optimized models offer a reliable, cost-efficient alternate for experimental and computational TPP analyses. Leveraging insights from these models enables better control over nanofluid TPPs in solar systems, enhancing energy conversion efficiency.

A solar still utilizes solar energy to produce freshwater by evaporating and condensing saline water, known for its simplicity but limited by low productivity and intermittent solar availability. Phase change materials (PCMs) provide an attractive technique to overcome these drawbacks. In order to investigate the effect of PCM parameters besides providing a clear guide for PCM selection, the current paper presents a thermal modeling on solar sill-PCM behavior for different parameters. The results indicated improved productivity with higher PCM mass, melting point, latent heat of fusion, specific heat, or thermal conductivity. Under extreme conditions, moderate PCM mass or high melting point is optimal, while moderate conditions benefit from high PCM mass or moderate melting point. Long-term use favors high PCM mass or large latent heat of fusion. Combining high mass and melting point mitigates extreme condition challenges. Enhanced thermal conductivity alongside other parameters significantly boosts productivity, though excessive specific heat can reduce output. Improving the heat storage capacity holds significant promise for mitigating the challenges associated with selecting an appropriate melting point. Optimizing PCM selection by prioritizing mass, latent heat of fusion, thermal conductivity, melting point, and specific heat enhances solar still efficiency across diverse environments.

Background: Psoriasis is a common inflammatory condition worldwide, with an average prevalence ranging from 2% to 3%. However, the incidence of psoriasis varies among different ethnic groups and regions. Elevated leptin levels have been associated with increased cellular proliferation, including T-cells. Additionally, high leptin levels may stimulate the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines such as ILـ6 and TNFـα. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of Apremilast on Leptin in obese psoriatic patients. Subjects and Methods: Thirty patients with psoriasis were included in This prospective cohort study to measure the levels of serum Leptin by using the ELISA technique, before and after receiving Apremilast. Result: The present work found the concentration of Leptin before receiving Apremilast was 2.365 ng/ml, and after six months from baseline, it was reduced to 1.933 ng/ml, which was statistically significant (P

In this current investigation, the experimental performance of a solar still basin was significantly enhanced by incorporating snail shell biomaterials. The outcomes of the snail shell-augmented solar still basin (SSSS) are compared with those of a conventional solar still (CSS). The utilization of snail shells proved to facilitate the reduction of saline water and enhance its temperature, thereby improving the productivity of the SSSS. Cumulatively, the SSSS productivity was improved by 4.3% over CSS. Furthermore, the SSSS outperformed in energy and exergy efficiency of CSS by 4.5 and 3.5%, respectively. Economically, the cost per liter of distillate (CPL) for the CSS was 3.4% higher than SSSS. Moreover, the SSSS showed a shorter estimated payback period (PBP) of 141 days which was 6 days less than CSS. Considering the environmental impact, the observed CO2 emissions from the SSSS were approximately 14.6% higher than CSS over its 10-year lifespan. Notably, the SSSS exhibited a substantial increase in the estimated carbon credit earned (CCE) compared to the CSS. Ultimately, the research underscores the efficacy of incorporating snail shells into solar still basins as a commendable approach to organic waste management, offering economic benefits without compromising environmental considerations. HIGHLIGHTS The snail shell biomaterial is used in solar still for clean water production.; The hourly productivity of SSSS is enhanced by 6.8% than CSS.; The energy efficiency of SSSS and CSS is about 24.1% and 23%, respectively.; The pay back period of SSSS is 141 days, whereas it is 147 days for CSS.;

Thermal power plants account for 39 % of Sudan’s electricity grid. Consequently, enhancing the performance of these plants is crucial for bolstering the Sudanese energy sector. This paper presents an analysis of energy, conventional exergy, and advanced exergy for 180-MW Garri “1” combined cycle power plant in Sudan. The study focuses on assessing the enhancement potential of this power plant to provide guidance for performance improvement and identify optimal areas for enhancement within the plant’s components. The energy and classical exergy analyses results indicated that the highest energy losses occur in the stacks (55.1 %), while the largest source of exergy destruction is combustion chambers (50.98 %). Furthermore, the lowest contributions to energy and exergy losses are from the deaerators (0.15 % energy and 0.32 % exergy) and auxiliary systems (0.22 % energy and 2.85 % exergy). The overall energy and exergy efficiencies of the plant were found to be 36.1 % and 34.1 %, respectively. The advanced exergy analysis exhibited that the ratios of unavoidable to avoidable exergy destruction and endogenous to exogenous exergy destruction are 87.95 % to 12.05 % and 68.3 % to 31.7 %, respectively. Moreover, it was shown that the primary source of avoidable endogenous exergy destruction is the combustion chambers (48.53 %). Furthermore, the improvement potential in the plant’s exergy efficiency was found to be only 3 %, suggesting the need for optimization of operational parameters to enhance overall performance. The current paper offers valuable insights into enhancing efficiency of Sudanese energy sector, with implications for optimizing the energy sector in similar developing countries.

Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune intra-epidermal blistering diseases that affect both the skin and mucous membranes. Characteristic histological features of pemphigus include intra-epidermal blisters and acantholysis, which is the loss of connections between epidermal cells. A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted in the period between January 2016 and January 2019. A total of 549 cases were selected; 92 cases were clinically diagnosed as pemphigus, and direct immunofluorescence (DIF) was applied for immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG, IgM, and C3 to confirm clinical diagnosis. Bullous pemphigoid (BP) was the most common autoimmune skin condition, comprising 29.3% of cases, predominantly affecting females (19.6%). Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) followed with 32.6% of cases, evenly distributed between males and females. Lichen planus pemphigoid accounted for 17.4%, with a higher prevalence in females (13.0%). Other conditions, such as pemphigus gestationis and bullous lupus erythematosus, were rare, each affecting only one gender. Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita was seen only in males, while linear IgA bullous dermatosis was slightly more common in females. Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) and pemphigus vegetans were infrequent, with the first one more common in males and the second one more common in females. Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) and IgA pemphigus had the lowest incidence, with PNP affecting one male and IgA pemphigus equally distributed between genders. The study found PV (32.6%) to be the most common autoimmune blistering disease, followed by BP (29.3%), with females more frequently affected. DIF was effective in confirming clinical diagnoses across various subtypes.

COVID-19 is a highly contagious viral illness caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It primarily affects the respiratory system but can also impact other significant organs. Its rapid spread has heightened interest in biomarkers for screening and early diagnosis. This study evaluated D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), and complete blood count (CBC) levels in patients with COVID-19 compared to healthy individuals. A total of 50 healthy individuals and 50 COVID-19 patients, aged 20 to 65, were included in the study, excluding individuals with conditions such as leukemia, thalassemia, or pregnancy. Whole blood and plasma samples were collected for CBC and D-dimer assays and stored at 2-4°C. The COVID-19 patients had significantly higher levels of D-dimer, CRP, white blood cells (WBC), granulocytes, and granulocyte percentage as compared with the healthy individuals (p

Evaporative cooling in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the most important cooling systems used inside greenhouses to obtain an acceptable temperature change in hot, dry climates. It is considered insufficient during very hot summer periods, when temperatures outside the greenhouse reach approximately 48 °C, which affects the efficiency of cooling, and thus, creates stress on the plants, leading to wilting and a decrease in the production rate. The cooling system is developed by making an insulated rectangular tunnel. The air comes out through vertical openings directly to the plants. The results of evaluating plant heat stress in the developed cooling system (DCS) showed an increase in the values of the photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, carbon dioxide exchange, and stomatal conductance. The plants also appeared well in terms of the shape of the leaves, their freshness, the abundance of flowers, and the large size of the fruits, while in the traditional cooling system (TCS) the plants exhibited some wilting and some brown spots. The hectare yield reached 42.49 ton/ha for the DCS system, while it reached 37.53 ton/ha for the TCS with an increasing rate of 13.22 %. The total weight of fruits harvested within 60 days of cultivation was 4.25 kg/m2 for the DCS and 3.75 kg/m2 for the TCS. The dry and fresh weight of fruit, stem, and leaves, total dissolved solids, vitamin C, chlorophyll percentage in leaves, and total plant acidity, were higher in DCS compared to the TCS.

Nijmegen syndrome is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by chromosomal instability, microcephaly, physical retardation, specific disorders of the facial skeleton, as well as a predisposition to cancer. Most patients of Slavic origin have a homozygous mutation with the del5 founder effect in the NBS gene. The frequency of occurrence is 1:100000population. The highest frequency of carriage in the population of the del5 mutation in the NBS gene in the Czech Republic is 1:154, in Ukraine – 1:182, in Poland – 1:190. This pathology is presented in our clinical practice for the first time, and therefore we would like to provide data for a wide review

Cross-linking, also called tanning, improves mechanical properties of leather and also increases its enzymatic and thermal stability. As a final product, leather has an ultimate tensile strength (σ) of 8–25 MPa and an elongation at break (ε) of >30 %. Mycelium-based materials are a sustainable alternative to leather. Here, the effect of cross-linkers was assessed on mechanical properties of Schizophyllum commune mycelium sheets. To this end, glutaraldehyde and N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) were used as well as extracts of Ligustrum vulgare leaves, and bark of Acacia mearnsii and Caesalpinia spinosa. Untanned sheets had a σ of 7.8 MPa and an ε of 15.2 %, while the best overall combination of strength and elasticity was obtained with 0.1 % glutaraldehyde with a σ of 11.1 MPa and an ε of 14.6 %. Cross-linking also increased enzymatic stability and reduced mycelial water absorption but did not result in increased thermal stability. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and amino acid analysis showed that glutaraldehyde bound both protein amino groups and polysaccharide hydroxyl groups by forming Schiff bases and acetals, respectively. Together, synthetic and vegetable cross-linkers can be used to obtain mycelium materials with leather-like tensile strength.

This paper describes a unique method that uses Iron (phen) molecule [phen: 1,10-phenanthroline] placed on a glass substrate to create a photodetector (PD) that is sensitive to visible light as a heterostructure device. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the samples were investigated using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectra (EDX), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The photosensitivity of the Iron (phen) /glass PD was evaluated at different bias voltages (5, 10, 15, and 20 V) at wavelength of 510 nm. The photosensitivity values were found to be 58.45, 76.82, 84.9, and 87.83, indicating the PD's ability to generate a measurable electrical response to light stimuli in the visible range. Furthermore, the response and recovery times of the Iron (phen) PD were assessed when exposed to pulsed visible light at a wavelength of 510 nm and bias voltages of 5, 10, 15 and 20 V. The results indicated favorable response and recovery times, suggesting the PD's capability to quickly detect and recover from changes in light intensity. At a bias voltage of 20 V and under illumination with visible light at 510 nm, the Iron (phen) PD demonstrated a maximum current gain of 9.22 and a quantum efficiency (ƞ) of 28.17. These values indicate the PD's ability to amplify the generated electrical current and efficiently convert incident photons into detectable electrical signals. Overall, the fabricated Iron (phen) glass PD exhibited promising photosensitivity, response and recovery times, current gain, and quantum efficiency when exposed to visible light. The findings suggest the potential application of Iron (phen) as a material for visible light photodetection.

The ongoing global public health challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates continuous research and surveillance efforts. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed over 1000 COVID-19 RT-PCR tests conducted on a cohort of 1200 patients in Saudi Arabia. Our primary goal was to investigate mutations in specific genes RdRp, N, and E different infection and recovery stages in Saudi patients with SARS-CoV-2. We also extended our analysis to include patients of various nationalities residing in Saudi Arabia, with the overarching objective of assessing these genes as markers for COVID-19 presence and progression. To diagnose and investigate potential genetic variations in COVID-19, we engaged RT-PCR. Our study primarily focused on detecting mutations in the RdRp, N, and E genes in Saudi patients with SARS-CoV-2, as well as individuals from various national residing in Saudi Arabia. This molecular technique provided valuable insights into the virus’s genetic makeup during infection and recovery. In our analysis of 671 positive COVID-19 cases, diverse gene involvement patterns were observed. Specifically, 55.91% had mutations in all three genes (RdRp, N, and E), 62.33% in both N and E genes, and 67.16% in RdRp and N genes. Additionally, 30.75% exhibited mutations exclusively in the RdRp gene, and 51.58% had mutations in the N gene. The N gene, in particular, showed high sensitivity as a marker for identifying active viral circulation. Regarding the temporal dynamics of the disease, the median duration between a positive and a subsequent negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result was approximately 33.86 days for 44% of cases, 14.31 days for 30%, and 22.67 days for 4%. The insights from this study hold significant implications for managing COVID-19 patients during the ongoing pandemic. The N gene shows promise as a marker for detecting active viral circulation, potentially improving patient care and containment strategies. Establishing a defined positive threshold for diagnostic methods and correlating it with a low risk of infection remains a challenge. Further research is needed to address these complexities and enhance our understanding of COVID-19 epidemiology and diagnostics.

In developing countries, vehicle emissions are a major source of atmospheric pollution, worsened by aging vehicle fleets and less stringent emissions regulations. This results in elevated levels of particulate matter, contributing to the degradation of urban air quality and increasing concerns over the broader effects of atmospheric emissions on human health. This study proposes a Hybrid Explainable Boosting Machine (EBM) framework, optimized using the Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy (CMA-ES), to predict vehicle-related PM2.5 concentrations and analyze contributing factors. Air quality data were collected from Open-Seneca sensors installed along the Nairobi Expressway, alongside meteorological and traffic data. The CMA-ES-tuned EBM model achieved a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 2.033 and an R2 of 0.843, outperforming other models. A key strength of the EBM is its interpretability, revealing that the location was the most critical factor influencing PM2.5 concentrations, followed by humidity and temperature. Elevated PM2.5 levels were observed near the Westlands roundabout, and medium to high humidity correlated with higher PM2.5 levels. Furthermore, the interaction between humidity and traffic volume played a significant role in determining PM2.5 concentrations. By combining CMA-ES for hyperparameter optimization and EBM for prediction and interpretation, this study provides both high predictive accuracy and valuable insights into the environmental drivers of urban air pollution, providing practical guidance for air quality management.

Objectives: Six wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) from the Sudan collection were studied for their capacity to withstand thermal stress, depending on protein and ISSR markers profiling. Methods: Yield and yield components were determined under different sowing dates applied through a field experiment for season 14/2015. Both the DNA and protein patterns were profiled using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS-PAGE) markers, respectively. Results: The cultivars showed the same protein profile under the three treatments, indicating no association between the detected protein patterns (144 bands) and responses to different sowing dates. 415 fragments of DNA were generated by the six ISSR primers, of which 64.5 % were polymorphic. Values for polymorphism information content (PIC) were determined and ranged from 0.11 to 0.73. Three of the alleles that were detected for the Argine cultivar at late sowing may be considered candidates for heat stress tolerance. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, cultivar Argine is the most heat-tolerant of the six cultivars studied and may be useful for wheat breeding strategies, whereas cultivar Condor may be grown in regions where the winter season is shorter or the sowing date is delayed. ISSR markers were found to be more efficient in estimating the variability within wheat cultivars compared with SDS-PAGE protein profiles.

The present work studied the drop size distribution in the RTL contactor using two liquid-liquid systems, xylene-acetone-water and kerosene-acetone-water. Process variables studied were: rpm (10-50 min-1), continuous phase flow rate (4-12 l/h), dispersed phase flow rate (4-12 l/h), and concentration (0.1-0.5 mole/l). It was found that Sauter mean drop diameter (d32) decreased with increasing rpm and continuous phase flow rate, and decreasing dispersed phase flow rate and concentration. An empirical correlation, with a correlation coefficient equal to (92.6%), relating d32 with process variables was developed having the form:

The cell wall fulfils several functions in the biology of fungi. For instance, it provides mechanical strength, interacts with the (a)biotic environment, and acts as a molecular sieve. Recently, it was shown that proteins and β-glucans in the cell wall of Schizophyllum commune bind Cu2+. We here show that the cell wall of this mushroom forming fungus also binds other (micro-)nutrients. Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, NO3–, PO43-, and SO42- bound at levels > 1 mg per gram dry weight cell wall, while binding of BO3-, Cu2+, Zn2+ and MoO42- was lower. Sorption of Ca2+, Mn2+, Zn2+ and PO43- was promoted at alkaline pH. These compounds as well as BO33-, Cu2+, Mg2+, NO3–, and SO42- that had bound at pH 4, 6, or 8 could be released from the cell wall at pH 4 with a maximum efficiency of 46–93 %. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy showed that the metals had the same binding sites as Cu2+ when a low concentration of this ion is used. Moreover, data indicate that anions bind to the cell wall as well as to the metal ions. Together, it is shown that the cell wall of S. commune binds various (micro-)nutrients and that this binding is higher than the uptake by hyphae. The binding to the cell wall may be used as a storage mechanism or may reduce availability of these molecules to competitors or prevent toxic influx in the cytoplasm.

The impact of clay mineralogy on engineering properties relevant to road design, such as the strength and stiffness of road materials, has recently been the subject of intensive investigations, aiming at providing indirect measures of soil performance out of mineralogical data. This study deals with the effects of clay minerals on soil strength, expressed in terms of California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), and stiffness, represented by the constrained modulus, which are commonly used as engineering properties for pavement materials. The study is performed on six clayey soils (S1-S6) of different geographic origins. Five of the six soils are highly plastic, potentially swelling, and one is kaolinitic soil. The mineralogical characteristics of the samples were analyzed through X-ray diffraction (XRD). The testing program included Atterberg limits, sieve analysis, CBR, UCS, and consolidation tests. The measured properties of the samples were compared in light of the mineralogical composition of the soils. The investigation showed that the kaolinite mineral is significantly more effective than the montmorillonite in reducing the plasticity of the clays. Higher strength indicators (CBR and UCS) were observed for samples with high kaolinite content (S4, S5, and S6). Moreover, the kaolinitic soil samples are characterized by a larger constrained modulus (Ec) than the other samples.

Abstract Background Sternal wound infection (SWI) post cardiac surgery remains an important cause of extra morbidity, mortality and cost. The objective was to identify risk factors for SWI in a cardiac centre in Eastern Saudi Arabia as part of the investigation into Surveillance variance in the local rates of SWI. Methods We included cases and controls from a cross section of patients who underwent major cardiac surgery between 2017 and 2020 matched for age, sex and time of surgery. An explanatory logistic regression model was fitted to estimate the risk factors. Results N = 204 (51 cases and 153 controls matching ratio 1:3, from a source population of 985 patients). factors significantly associated with SWI in the final multivariate model: hospital stay OR (1.05, Cl 1.01–1.10), Graft Conduit BIMA versus No Graft OR (10.94, Cl 1.60–74.63), transfusion of both packed cells plus other blood products versus no transfusion OR (3.53, Cl 93–13.44), HbA1c OR (1.09 Cl 0.84–1.41), BMI OR (1.25, Cl 1.04–1.50), perioperative blood glucose OR (1.02, Cl 1.004–1.03), surgery time OR (1.19, Cl 1.00–1.58). Conclusions The diverse aetiology, cross-disciplinary nature of SWI prevention, and despite improved prevention and control practices, including related care bundles with their proven value, SWI remain a serious challenge in cardiac surgery. Multidisciplinary consensus guidelines are well overdue.

The technological breakthrough in the field of natural composites has led to the introduction of many new materials and products, which are environmentally friendly. As a result, there is a need to reuse, recycle, and reduce the increasing solid bio-waste. Researchers are focusing on deriving reinforcements for composites from biomaterials. This review focuses on the mechanical, physical, chemical, and thermal characterization of CFF as reported in various research articles. This work also presents CFF as a reinforcement material in composites and methods for preparing the CFF composites. This review indicates that CFF provides enough scope to explore opportunities for future research of CFF as a biomaterial in composites.

Abstract The scientific community is endowed with the essential biogenic, eco‐benign, and cost‐effective synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of least explored Trillium govanianum methanolic extract. The study involved T. govanianum selection based on its tremendous therapeutic properties. These AuNPs were characterised by UV–visible spectroscope, atomic force electron microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), FTIR spectroscope, and X‐ray diffraction. The atomic force electron microscope pattern revealed that particle size ranges from 2 to 24.3 nm which corresponds to X‐ray diffraction analysis data (8.87–15 nm) with spherical morphology. The spherical nature, particle size distribution, non‐agglomeration, and homogeneity of AuNPs were also studied from SEM image. The diameter range of AuNPs was measured between 20 and 30 nm with an average size of 25 nm. FTIR profile showed that AuNPs were stabilised and capped by bio‐molecules containing aromatic amine functional groups. Amongst C. albicans, Curvularia, R. oryzae, A. niger, A. alternaria, and Paecilomyces fungal strains, AuNPs were found most efficient against C. albicans (53.33%) at 18 μL per disc. While in P. aeroginosa, B. subtilis, E. coli, K. pnemoniae, S. aureus, and X. compestris bacterial strains, AuNPs at 18 μL per disc revealed promising antibacterial potential against P. aeroginosa by displaying maximum inhibition of 66.66 %.

This paper shows the characteristics of temperature and adsorbed (water vapor) mass rate distribution in the adsorber unit which is the key part to any adsorption refrigeration system. The temperature profiles of adsorption/desorption phases (Dynamic Sorption) are measured experimentally under the operating conditions of 90oC hot water temperature, 30oC cooling water temperature, 35oC adsorption temperature and cycle time of 40 min. Based on the temperature profiles, The mass transfer equations for the annulus adsorbent bed are solved to obtain the distribution of adsorption velocity and adsorbate concentration using non-equilibrium model. The relation between the adsorption velocity with time is investigated during the process of adsorption. The practical cycles of adsorption and desorption were stated dependent on the variables obtained from the experiment and equations calculations. The results show that the adsorption velocity is diminished after a period of 20 min. The maximum value of the adsorbed water vapor concentration on silica gel is 0.12 kg water/kg adsorbent (adsorption phase) and the minimum value of the water content into silica gel is 0.04 kg water/kg adsorbent (desorption phase) producing a dynamic sorption of kg water/kg adsorbent.

Nowadays double perovskites for renewable energy are emerging materials because of their interesting properties such as simple and stable crystal structure. In our study, we theoretically explored the optoelectronic along with mechanical and thermoelectric characteristics of X2InSbO6 (X = Sr, Ba) using density functional theory followed by Wein2k code. The thermodynamic and structural stabilities are determined based on the enthalpy of formation and tolerance factor. The ductile and brittle behavior has been checked by Passion and Pugh's ratios. The measured values of energy band gaps are 2.55 eV for Sr2InSbO6, and 1.75 eV for Ba2InSbO6. These compositions are potentially used in optoelectronic applications because their electronic characteristics are controllable. In the energy range 0–12 eV, the compositions under consideration exhibit a single-peaked response while the replacement of cation Sr with Ba caused a shift in optical structures towards lower energies. These compositions are also suitable for thermoelectric systems as they possess high values of the figure of merits at room temperature and the measured values are 0.77 for Sr2InSbO6 and 0.75 for Ba2InSbO6 are recorded.

Methanol extract obtained from the fruits of Hyphaene thebaica (doum fruit) was chemically analyzed using GC-MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry). Up to thirty compounds were identified in the extract. Acetic acid decyl ester (36.80%), n-Hexadecenoic acid (5.14%),1H-Purine-2,6-dione, 3,7-dihydro-1-methyl (4.24%), 2-Furancarboxaldehyde, 5-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetyl)-dimethylhydrazone (4.67%), Propanoic acid 3,3′-dithiobis (3.52%) and [1,2,4] Triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ol were major components. The antibacterial potential of the extract against six clinical bacterial isolates resistant to antibiotics was also investigated, using various in vitro assays including well diffusion, minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentration. It was found that, the methanol extract of doum fruit was characterized by antibacterial action toward one Gram-positive ß-lactamase bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), and one Gram-negative Multidrug-resistant bacteria (Proteus mirabilis). The other four bacterial strains showed no susceptibility towards the extract. The study suggests future additional biochemical and microbiological investigations in order to understand the mechanism of action of the bioactive molecules as antimicrobial agents.

The influence of dry leachates of Acasia saligna was tested on the seedling growth, photosynthesis, biochemical attributes, and gene expression of the economically important crops, including wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and arugula (Eruca sativa L.). Different concentrations (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) of stem extract (SE) and leaf extract (LE) of A. saligna were prepared, and seedlings were allowed to grow in Petri plates for 8 days. The results showed that all plant species exhibited reduced germination rate, plant height, and fresh and dry weight due to leachates extracts of A. saligna. Moreover, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), exhibited differential regulation due to the extract treatment. The SOD was increased with increasing the concentration of extracts, while CAT and APX activities were decreased with increasing the extract concentrations. In addition, leachate extract treatment decrease chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, PSII activity, and water use efficiency, with evident effects at their higher concentrations. Furthermore, the content of proline, sugars, protein, total phenols, and flavonoids were reduced considerably due to leachates extract treatments. Furthermore, seedlings treated with high concentrations of LE increased the expression of genes. The present results lead to the conclusion that A. saligna contains significant allelochemicals that interfere with the growth and development of the tested crop species and reduced the crops biomass and negatively affected other related parameters. However, further studies are suggested to determine the isolation and purification of the active compounds present in A. saligna extracts.