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Abstract Plastic consumption has increased globally, and environmental issues associated with it have only gotten more severe; as a result, the search for environmentally friendly alternatives has intensified. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), as biopolymers produced by microalgae, might be an excellent option; however, large-scale production is a relevant barrier that hinders their application. Recently, innovative materials such as carbon dots (CDs) have been explored to enhance PHA production sustainably. This study added green synthesized multi-doped CDs to Scenedesmus sp. microalgae cultures to improve PHA production. Prickly pear was selected as the carbon precursor for the hydrothermally synthesized CDs doped with nitrogen, phosphorous, and nitrogen–phosphorous elements. CDs were characterized by different techniques, such as FTIR, SEM, ζ potential, UV–Vis, and XRD. They exhibited a semi-crystalline structure with high concentrations of carboxylic groups on their surface and other elements, such as copper and phosphorus. A medium without nitrogen and phosphorous was used as a control to compare CDs-enriched mediums. Cultures regarding biomass growth, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and PHA content were analyzed. The obtained results demonstrated that CDs-enriched cultures produced higher content of biomass and PHA; CDs-enriched cultures presented an increase of 26.9% in PHA concentration and an increase of 32% in terms of cell growth compared to the standard cultures.

This study emphasizes the acceleration of clean energy (CE) adoption through financial inclusion (FI), particularly in the context of the rapid expansion of the BRICS economic cooperation alliance and its contribution to addressing environmental challenges. Specifically, this research assesses the impact of FI on the upward mobility of clean energy transition using annual panel data from 2004 to 2022. Utilizing a comprehensive set of pre-estimation techniques, this study employs the newly established Panel non-linear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (P-NARDL) model for empirical analysis, supplemented by robust estimation methods. The findings reveal that various dimensions of FI, including financial accessibility, financial depth, financial efficiency, and financial stability, significantly influence the progression from nonrenewable energy sources to clean energy consumption. This study extends the examination to assess both the aggregate and disaggregated relationships among the variables. Using causality estimation, it identifies the presence of both bidirectional and unidirectional causality between the FI indices and CE. These findings offer practical policy implications for developing financial resources to accelerate the adoption of CE, thereby addressing the environmental challenges faced by the BRICS economies.

Abstract Malaria is a potentially fatal plasmodium parasite injected by female anopheles mosquitoes that infect red blood cells and cause millions of lifelong disability worldwide yearly. However, specialists’ manual screening in clinical practice is laborious and prone to error. Therefore, a novel Deep Boosted and Ensemble Learning (DBEL) framework, comprising the stacking of new Boosted-BR-STM convolutional neural networks (CNN) and the ensemble ML classifiers, is developed to screen malaria parasite images. The proposed Boosted-BR-STM is based on a new dilated-convolutional block-based Split Transform Merge (STM) and feature-map Squeezing–Boosting (SB) ideas. Moreover, the new STM block uses regional and boundary operations to learn the malaria parasite’s homogeneity, heterogeneity, and boundary with patterns. Furthermore, the diverse boosted channels are attained by employing Transfer Learning-based new feature-map SB in STM blocks at the abstract, medium, and conclusion levels to learn minute intensity and texture variation of the parasitic pattern. Additionally, to enhance the learning capacity of Boosted-BR-STM and foster a more diverse representation of features, boosting at the final stage is achieved through TL by utilizing multipath residual learning. The proposed DBEL framework implicates the stacking of prominent and diverse boosted channels and provides the generated discriminative features of the developed Boosted-BR-STM to the ensemble of ML classifiers. The proposed framework improves the discrimination ability and generalization of ensemble learning. Moreover, the deep feature spaces of the developed Boosted-BR-STM and customized CNNs are fed into ML classifiers for comparative analysis. The proposed DBEL framework outperforms the existing techniques on the NIH malaria dataset that are enhanced using discrete wavelet transform to enrich feature space. The proposed DBEL framework achieved Accuracy (98.50%), Sensitivity (0.9920), F-score (0.9850), and AUC (0.9960), which suggests it to be utilized for malaria parasite screening.

Abstract The Plasmodium is responsible for malaria which poses a major health threat, globally. This study is based on the estimation of the relative abundance of mosquitoes, and finding out the correlations of meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity and rainfall) with the abundance of mosquitoes. In addition, this study also focused on the use of nested PCR (species-specific nucleotide sequences of 18S rRNA genes) to explore the Plasmodium spp. in female Anopheles. In the current study, the percentage relative abundance of Culex mosquitoes was 57.65% and Anopheles 42.34% among the study areas. In addition, the highest number of mosquitoes was found in March in district Mandi Bahauddin at 21 °C (Tmax = 27, Tmin = 15) average temperature, 69% average relative humidity and 131 mm rainfall, and these climatic factors were found to affect the abundance of the mosquitoes, directly or indirectly. Molecular analysis showed that overall, 41.3% of the female Anopheles pools were positive for genus Plasmodium. Among species, the prevalence of Plasmodium (P.) vivax (78.1%) was significantly higher than P. falciparum (21.9%). This study will be helpful in the estimation of future risk of mosquito-borne diseases along with population dynamic of mosquitoes to enhance the effectiveness of vector surveillance and control programs.

Abstract Background Water stress is a major danger to crop yield, hence new approaches to strengthen plant resilience must be developed. To lessen the negative effects of water stress on wheat plants, present study was arranged to investigate the role of synergistic effects of biochar, trans-zeatin riboside (t-ZR), and Azospirillum brasilense on soil improvement and enzymatic activity in water-stressed wheat. Results In a three-replication experiment comprising of four treatments (T0: Control, T1: Drought stress (DS), T2: DS + t-ZR with biochar, T3: DS + A. brasilense with biochar), we observed notable improvements in soil quality and enzymatic activities in water-stressed wheat plants with the application of t-ZR and A. brasilense with biochar. In drought stress, Treatment having the application of A. brasilense with biochar performs best as compared to the other and significant increased the enzymatic activities such as peroxidase (7.36%), catalase (8.53%), superoxide dismutase (6.01%), polyphenol oxidase (14.14%), and amylase (16.36%) in wheat plants. Different enzymatic activities showed different trends of results. Soil organic C, dissolved organic C, dissolved organic N also enhanced 29.46%, 8.59%, 22.70% respectively with the application of A. brasilense with biochar under drought stress condition. Conclusions The synergistic action of A. brasilense and biochar creates an effective microbiological environment that supports essential plant physiological processes during drought stress. This enhancement is attributed to improved soil fertility and increased organic matter content, highlighting the potential of these novel strategies in mitigating water stress effects and enhancing crop resilience.

Green finance (GF) holds significant potential in fostering high-quality economic development (HED), enhancing societal affluence consistency, and alleviating poverty by promoting sustainable development, innovation, and resilience. This study addresses environmental challenges and the promotion of sustainable economic growth through the pivotal tools of GF. We employ spatial spillover, quantile regression, and regional-wise models to derive four key findings. Firstly, baseline regression analysis reveals a noteworthy positive association between GF and HED, indicating that the adoption and utilization of green financial mechanisms significantly advance economic development while maintaining ecological sustainability. Secondly, using a spatial econometric model, this study identifies the presence of a spillover effect, showing that the positive impact of GF on HED extends beyond individual provinces and contributes to overall economic development on a broader geographical scale. Thirdly, the analysis of regional heterogeneity demonstrates that the correlation between GF and HED varies across different regions of China. Notably, a significant association between GF and HED is observed in the western region, highlighting the importance of considering regional disparities in the implementation and effectiveness of green financial policies. Lastly, through quantile regression analysis, this study uncovers non-linear relationships between GF and HED, emphasizing that the impact of green financial strategies on economic development varies across different quantiles of the economic development distribution. This study provides several practical policy implications for financial institutions and policymakers.

Background and study aims  Mucosal closure after gastric per-oral endoscopic myotomy (G-POEM) can be difficult due to the thick gastric mucosa. We evaluated the use of a novel through-the-scope (TTS) suture system for G-POEM mucosotomy closure. Patients and methods  This was a single-center prospective study on consecutive patients who underwent G-POEM with TTS suture closure between February 2022 and August 2022. Technical success was defined as complete mucosotomy closure with TTS suture alone. On subgroup analysis, we compared performance on TTS suturing between the advanced endoscopist and the advanced endoscopy fellow (AEF) under supervision. Results  Thirty-six consecutive patients (median age 60 years, interquartile range [IQR] 48.5-67], 72 % women) underwent G-POEM with TTS suture of the mucosotomy. Median mucosal incision length was 2 cm (IQR: 2-2.5). Mean mucosal closure and total procedure time were 17.5 ± 10.8 and 48.4 ± 16.8 minutes, respectively. Technical success was achieved in 24 patients (66.7 %) and 100 % of the cases were adequately closed with a combination of TTS suture and clips. When compared to the advanced endoscopist, the AEF required > 1 TTS suture system for complete closure significantly more frequently (66.7 % vs. 8.3 %, P  = 0.009) and more time for mucosal closure (20.4 ± 12.1 vs. 11.9 ± 4.9 minutes, P  = 0.03). Conclusions  TTS suturing is effective and safe for G-POEM mucosal incision closure. With experience, technical success is high, and most closures may be achieved using a single TTS suture system alone, which has important cost and time implications. Additional comparative trials with other closure devices are need1ed.

Dieulafoy’s lesions (DLs) are a rare cause of acute gastrointestinal bleeds (GIBs). Here we describe Over-the-Scope Clip Padlock System (OTSC-P) use to treat a gastric fundus DL with recurrent bleeding despite other interventions. The OTSC-P was created for full-thickness defect closure in the event of a perforation, but use has expanded to treatment of GIB. They consist of metal clips mounted on transparent caps, delivered via endoscope. Their size allows control of larger bleeding lesions, provides enhanced tissue stability and the firmer clip grasp reduces rebleeding or clip dislodgement.

Primary pancreatic lymphomas (PPLs) are a subgroup of gastrointestinal (GI) lymphomas. They are an exceedingly rare entity, both in terms of pancreatic malignancies and also extranodal lymphomas. Epidemiological investigations have been challenging to do because of their rarity. This has resulted in a lack of clarity on the clinicopathological characteristics, differential diagnosis, best course of treatment, and prognosis of PPL. Because the clinical signs are frequently non-specific, it can lead to a diagnostic hazard for the unwary physician. Preoperatively, it is imperative to distinguish between adenocarcinoma and PPL, as they present similarly, but have vastly different treatment modalities and prognosis. We herein present a case of an elderly man who presented with obstructive jaundice and was found to have PPL.

Sustainability encompasses environmental, economic, and social dimensions, with safety standing as a crucial facet within the construction industry's social sustainability framework. This study addresses this vital concern by comprehensively analyzing published research on prominent safety risk factors and effective mitigation measures in construction projects, considering their influence on the industry's sustainability. A systematic literature review spanning 2008 to 2023 examined 32 pertinent articles from reputable journals. The review revealed 25 identified safety risk factors and 20 corresponding effective measures. These were categorised into labour, environmental, technical, and financial risks, forming the basis for a network diagram illustrating their interrelationships and associated mitigation strategies. Moreover, the study introduced a sustainability criterion, evaluating the various safety risk factor categories, and highlighting labour and environmental risks as the most significant concerns among the factors assessed. Finally, the research proposes future research directions aimed at elevating safety and sustainability within construction projects.

The fifth generation of wireless communication is anticipated to provide improved quality of service and enhanced data rates to the end users. One such technology that stands out as a potential transmission scheme for 5G systems is Filter Bank Multicarrier using Offset Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (FBMC/OQAM) with an effective channel estimation technique for improved performance. However, due to the inherent imaginary interference, channel estimation methods relying on preamble structures in FBMC/OQAM systems exhibit sub-optimal performance, particularly within Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) setups. For channel estimation schemes based on compressed sensing, the inherent sparsity of wireless channels can be exploited for accurate channel reconstruction and overall performance improvement.We propose a novel compressed sensing based algorithm namely, Adaptive Refined Random Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (ARROMP), for MIMO-FBMC system with Coordinated MultiPoint (CoMP) scheduling. This algorithm adaptively selects a support set by utilizing a double threshold for the minimization of mean squared error and for accurate channel reconstruction. The proposed algorithm's performance is compared with existing Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (OMP) schemes such as random OMP, refined random OMP, and least square-based estimation. The numerical simulations suggest that the proposed adaptive algorithm provides performance improvement in terms of reduced Mean Squared Error (MSE) of channel reconstruction and Bit Error Rate (BER). Moreover, the proposed ARROMP algorithm for MIMO-FBMC is rigorously tested with CoMP scheduling for a cellular network using frequency division duplex mode. The proposed system presents significant improvements in throughput and spectral efficiency for all types of cell users, including cell-edge users. The simulation results validate the improved performance of the proposed algorithm with CoMP scheduling over the existing single-cell system with no coordination.

Northern coastal region of Arabian sea has an abundant wind potential available throughout the year which can be utilized for meeting the energy demands in this region. This study presents a techno-economic evaluation of a 100MW wind farm at Gwadar region of Pakistan which is ideally located at the shores of Arabian sea and holds great strategic and economic significance. Several feasibility studies have been undertaken on this location; however, this analysis is carried out using on-site wind data on an hourly basis as well as the most recent financial factors along with optimized wind farm design configuration. Empirical relationships are presented for analyzing the long-term economic feasibility of wind farm. Results indicate that annual energy production of 29,7859 MWh is possible with an optimized design of wind farm that will help to reduce 12,648 equivalent tons of CO2 emissions. Moreover, a positive net present value, levelized cost of electricity around 9.08 ¢/kWh, and payback period of approximately 4 years justify the economic viability of the proposed wind farm design at Gwadar region. This study will serve as a valuable reference for similar wind profile site locations in India and Iran. Moreover, this study presents long-term economic feasibility with site specific analysis which can provide prospects for investment in sustainable energy development and increase its utilization in developing countries.

Stability and precision of atomic devices are closely tied to the quality and stability of the internal atmosphere of the atomic vapor cells on which they rely. Such an atmosphere can be stabilized by building the cell with low permeation materials such as sapphire or aluminosilicate glass in microfabricated devices. Recently, we have shown that permeation barriers made of Al 2 O 3 thin-film coatings deposited on standard borosilicate glass could be an alternative for buffer gas pressure stabilization. In this study, we, hence, investigate how helium permeation is influenced by the thickness, ranging from 5 to 40 nm, of such Al 2 O 3 thin films coated by atomic layer deposition. Permeation rates are derived from long-term measurements of the pressure-shifted transition frequency of a coherent population trapping (CPT) atomic clock. From thicknesses of 20 nm onward, a significant enhancement of the cell hermeticity is experienced, corresponding to two orders of magnitude lower helium permeation rate. In addition, we test cesium vapor cells filled with neon as a buffer gas and whose windows are coated with 20 nm of Al 2 O 3. As for helium, the permeation rate of neon is significantly reduced, thanks to alumina coatings, leading to a fractional frequency stability of 4 × 10 − 12 at 1 day when the cell is used in a CPT clock. These features outperform the typical performances of uncoated Cs–Ne borosilicate cells and highlight the significance of Al 2 O 3 coatings for buffer gas pressure stabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acetabular fracture therapy, being complicated, is generally treated by non-operative methods due to a lack of surgeons’ expertise in pelvis surgery. The surgical exposure and reduction of acetabular fractures may become more direct and practical with the altered technique since it is closer to the acetabular quadrilateral plate. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a single anterior illio-inguinal approach for the management of a Bi-columnar acetabulum fracture. Methods: Sixty patients, fulfilling the selection criteria were selected for descriptive case series from Orthopedic Surgery Department at Lahore General Hospital, from 02-12-2020 to 02-06-2021. After informed consent, surgery was performed on all patients under general anesthesia. Patients were followed-up and evaluated for efficacy in OPD after 12 weeks of surgery with a Harris hip score. All demographic and other information was recorded on a Proforma. SPSS 22 was used to assess data. Post-stratification, efficacy was compared by using chi-square, p-value ≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 60 patients, 45(75 %) were male, whereas 15(25%) were female (Mean age 52.71±10.50yrs). The Mean of duration fracture (in days) and Harris score are 11.03±5.29 and 2.83±0.45 respectively. The efficacy concerning lateral side was 60% for left side and 26.7% for right side. Efficacy was higher in less than 10 days old fractures at 55.0% while after 10 days it was 31.7%. We found that the percentage of efficacy was 86.7%. Conclusion: The current study concluded that the anterior illio-inguinal approach is highly effective (p=0.001) in the management of acetabular fractures. Keywords: Acetabulum; Pelvic; Fracture; General Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate utilization, range of mobility at the end of the follow-up, DASH scores, and the necessity for additional operations. METHODOLOGY: Twelve patients with acute or chronic elbow dislocation from Jan 2022 to March 2023 were selected for study after written consent. Sampling was done with a non-probability sampling technique. Infection and age less than 20 & more than 70 years were exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Average extension-flexion arcs at the final follow-up were 21.84-108.57 degrees, while pronation-supination motion under normal level was 10.2-120 degrees. 91.66 percent of patients achieved > 100-degree arcs of both flexion-extension. The average DASH score was 17.99. CONCLUSION: Modified IJS is an affordable method of elbow stabilization with an early range of motion, and concentric reduction is modified IJS. It is simple to use and delivers good functional results.

This study aims to analyze the repercussions of the Russia–Ukraine conflict on the Russian financial market, focusing on the main stock market and sectorial stock indices. High-frequency hourly data from September 12, 2021, to April 29, 2022, covering the period before and after the outbreak of conflict, is utilized for analysis. The empirical investigation employs the TVP-VAR and Quantile-VAR connectedness approaches. Our findings indicate a significant impact of the conflict on the Russian stock market, leading to increased market risk during the event period. Notably, certain sectors, including oil and gas, utilities, metals & mining, financials, consumer goods, and services exerted more influence on other sectors, while chemicals, transport, and telecoms were influenced by other sectors. These insights are crucial for comprehending the financial implications of the ongoing conflict on the local economy, providing valuable guidance to portfolio managers, investors, and policymakers in devising effective financial strategies.