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A very sensitive and ultra‐selective electrochemical sensing device with high conductivity and durability was made using styrene, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and functionalised graphene oxide. To construct a mediator‐free, non‐enzymatic sensing probe for the detection of arsenic (v) ions, a recently synthesized sensor was impregnated onto an interdigital electrode (IDE) surface. The newly developed receptors were characterized using Fourier Transmission Infra‐Red (FTIR) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Under the optimized experimental conditions, sensor showed the lowest detection limit of 0.11 ppb with highest sensitivity (3460 ppb) and a strong linear relationship in the range of 50 ppm–1 ppb of As (v) concentration. The ion imprinting technique is employed to enhance the selectivity of the fabricated sensor. The arsenic sensor is found to be highly selective in the presence of interfering species like AlCl3, FeCl3, and CoCl3 etc. The electrochemical sensor proved to be reliable and could be reused after proper storage, also exhibit a high repeatability response and maintaining of 99 % of its initial sensor response for detection after repeated use of one month to six months. This effort showed excellent results in an electrochemical sensor with sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and reversibility for detecting trace quantities of As (v) in real water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 with CH4 through the dry reforming of methane (DRM) is an attractive approach to recycling greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals and fuels; however, this process is quite challenging. Although there is growing interest in designing efficient photocatalysts, they are less stable, and have lower photoactivity when employed for DRM reactions. Herein, we developed a noble metal-free hierarchical graphitic carbon nitride (HC3N4) loaded with cobalt (Co) for highly efficient and stable photocatalytic dry reforming of methane to produce synthesis gases (CO and H2). The performance of the newly designed Co/HC3N4 composite was tested for different reforming systems such as the dry reforming of methane, bi-reforming of methane (BRM) and reforming of CO2 with methanol–water. The performance of HC3N4 was much higher compared to bulk g-C3N4, whereas Co/HC3N4 was found to be promising for higher charge carrier separation and visible light absorption. The yield of CO and H2 with HC3N4 was 1.85- and 1.81-fold higher than when using g-C3N4 due to higher charge carrier separation. The optimized 2% Co/HC3N4 produces CO and H2 at an evolution rate of 555 and 41.2 µmol g−1 h−1, which was 18.28- and 1.74-fold more than using HC3N4 during photocatalytic dry reforming of methane (DRM), with a CH4/CO2 feed ratio of 1.0. This significantly enhanced photocatalytic CO and H2 evolution during DRM was due to efficient charge carrier separation in the presence of Co. The CH4/CO2 feed ratio was further investigated, and a 2:1 ratio was best for CO production. In contrast, the highest H2 was produced with a 1:1 feed ratio due to the competitive adsorption of the reactants over the catalyst surface. The performance of the composite was further investigated for bi-reforming methane and methanol. Using photocatalytic CO2 reduction with CH4/H2O, the production of CO and H2 was reduced, whereas significantly higher CO and H2 evolved using the BRM process involving methanol. Using methanol with CO2 and H2O, 10.77- and 1.39-fold more H2 and CO efficiency was achieved than when using dry reforming of methane. The composite was also very stable for continuous synthesis gas production during DRM in consecutive cycles. Thus, a co-assisted g-C3N4 nanotexture is promising for promoting photocatalytic activity and can be further explored in other solar energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary teeth play an important role in mastication, speech and occlusion of permanent dentition. Due to high prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth, it is essential to educate parents about prevention and management of dental caries of children. The objective of this study was to determine the pattern and prevalence of caries in primary teeth among children reporting to Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar. Total 900 children having age 4 to 7 years were includes in this study. Dental caries was assessed using sterilized mouth mirror and dental probe under dental chair light in primary teeth. The collected data were analysed in SPSS version 16.0. Percentages and frequencies were calculated for examined and affected teeth. Z-test was applied for statistical difference among girls and boys. P<0.05 was considered significant. Out of total of 900 children, 478(53.11%) affected by caries. The posterior teeth had greater prevalence of caries. In anterior teeth, central incisors(10%) followed by lateral incisors(8.09%) were affected by dental caries. Canine(3%) were least affected. In posterior teeth, second molars were affected more than first molars by caries. Girls were having less caries than boys.(p<0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead derivatives of 2-cyclohexyl-N-[(Z)-(3-methoxyphenyl/3-hydroxyphenyl) methylidene]hydrazinecarbothioamides 1–18 were synthesized, characterized and evaluated in vitro against HER-2 overexpressed breast cancer cell line SKBr-3. All the compounds showed activity against HER-2 overexpressed SKBr-3 cells with IC50 = 17.44 ± 0.01 μM to 53.29 ± 0.33 μM. (2Z)-2-(3-Hydroxybenzylidene)-N-(3-methoxyphenyl)hydrazinecarbothioamide (12, IC50 = 17.44 ± 0.01 μM) was found to be most potent compound of this series targeting HER-2 overexpressed breast cancer cells compared to the standard drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (IC50 = 38.58 ± 0.04 μM). Compound 12 inhibited the cellular proliferation via DNA degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study intended to develop a pH-responsive hydrogel based on Neem gum (Ng) to improve Lansoprazole (LSP) oral bioavailability. Azadirachta Indica seed extract was used to obtain Ng. pH-responsive hydrogel formulations (F1-F9) were prepared using different Ng ratios, Acrylamide (AAm), and methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA). The formulated hydrogels were characterized through FTIR, thermal analysis, swelling ratio, SEM, sol-gel ratios, In-Vitro drug release, and cytotoxicity analysis. Azadirachta Indica was extracted to produce a powder containing 21.5 % Ng. Prepared hydrogels showed maximum swelling at pH 7.4, whereas the swelling at an acidic pH was insignificant. LSP-loaded hydrogel demonstrated a regulated release of LSP for up to 24 h and indicated a Super Case II transport release mechanism. During the cytotoxic evaluation, the delivery system showed minimal cytotoxicity towards normal cells, while percent cytotoxicity was carried out for a longer duration (up to 96 h). The present study revealed Azadirachta indica gum-based pH-responsive hydrogel as a promising technique for precisely delivering LSP., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Pyracantha crenulata (D. Don) M. Roem (syn. Crataegus crenulata Roxb.) is an evergreen shrub in the Rosaceae family, notable for its chemical diversity and biological potential. This study isolates and characterises six compounds (Cc-1 to Cc-6), including four new ones, using repeated column chromatography. Structural elucidation employed IR, UV-vis, 1H and 13 C NMR, and mass spectrometry. The DPPH assay was used to test the antioxidant activity in vitro . Compounds Cc-4, Cc-2, Cc-1, and Cc-5 had IC50 values of 15.734 μg/ml, 51.422 μg/ml, 62.864 μg/ml, and 71.622 μg/ml, in that order. Quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed flavonoid content (22.81 mg/g), tannin content (385.15 mg/g), and total phenolic content (128.78 mg/g). Human cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) (PDB ID: 1hck) docked with compound Cc-4, which demonstrated strong antioxidant activity and revealed significant non-bonding interactions. The pkCSM and SwissADME analyses suggested promising drug-like properties for Cc-4, supported by BOILED-Egg diagrams highlighting its therapeutic potential.

This study focuses on synthesizing novel benzopyridazine compounds with an evaluation of their anti-epileptic activity by in-silico screening and MES test. The compounds were synthesized under controlled conditions by the reaction of the substituted anilines with sodium nitrite, followed by the reaction with cyanoacetamide, substituted urea, ethanol, and water. The final compounds (5a-d; 6a-d) were tested for antiepileptic activity by in-silico screening targeting N-Methyl D-Aspartate glutamate receptor (PDB ID:5IPV). The screened compounds are also evaluated by in vivo test (MES) by taking phenytoin as a standard drug. The results of the whole study were satisfactory with the yield of the compounds in the range of 88 % to 96 %. The results of in- silico, screening showed that compounds 6a and 6c have far more binding energy compared with standard phenytoin (6a -7.5 Kcal/mol. ; 6c -7.6 Kcal/mol. and Phenytoin -6.5 Kcal/mol.). The TD 50 values of synthesized compounds (6a-6d) are observed to be significantly higher than those of standard phenytoin. The PI values of several synthetic compounds (6a and 6c) were found to be higher (55.8 % and 58.0 %) than the current antiepileptic medicine phenytoin (55.6 %), demonstrating the synthesized compound's safety potential., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)