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Introduction: The category of Small Round Blue Cell Tumors includes neoplasms that are undifferentiated and contain similar-looking growth of small round blue cells having bigger nuclear size as compared to the cytoplasm (high N/C). It includes Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, Synovial Sarcoma, Ewings Sarcoma/ Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Hepatoblastoma, Retinoblastoma, Neuroblastoma, Neuroendocrine carcinoma, Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor, Dysgerminoma, and Wilm's tumor. Immunohistochemistry can be very helpful in the accurate diagnosis of this diverse group of tumors. Objective: The objective of the study is to sub-categorize pediatric malignant small round blue cell tumors using immunohistochemistry. Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study Setting: Meezan private lab, Faisalabad, Pakistan Duration of study: 4 years, from January 2017 to December 2020. Sample size: 46 cases. Sampling technique: Non-probability purposive sampling Materials and Methods: 46 cases, which fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected for the study. All these cases were subjected to immunohistochemistry. The IHC technique used was based on the Peroxidase anti-peroxidase (PAP) method. Based on site and morphological clues, initially Leukocyte common antigen (LCA), Myogenin, Cytokeratin (CK), Desmin, Chromogranin, Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE), S-100, Smooth Muscle Actin (SMA), and CD99 were used. Further immune stains panels were used afterward, as and when needed like CD20, CD3, CD30, BCL2, CD117, Ki-67, Tdt, Synaptophysin, SMA, CD56, Melan A, HMB45, and WT1. Results: Among all the malignant Small Round Cell Tumors, Rhabdomyosarcoma was the highest in frequency i.e. 8 (17.4%), followed by Ewing’s sarcoma/PNET 7(15.2%). Both Diffuse Large B cell lymphoma and Neuroblastoma were 5 each in number (10.9%). Non-Hodgkins lymphoma as a whole was 13 (28.2%), including 5 cases (10.9%) of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, 4 cases (8.7%) of T lymphoblastic lymphoma, 3 cases (6.5%) of Burkitt’s lymphoma, and only 1 case (2.2%) of NK/T cell lymphoma. Conclusion: Immunohistochemistry is an essential tool for accurate sub-categorization of pediatric small round blue cell tumors.

In this study, we engineered a sub-70 nm nanocomposite of ZnO/Zn2TiO4 using a low-temperature solution-phase method with titanium isopropoxide and zinc acetate as precursors, and isopropyl alcohol and water as solvents. The investigation focused on nanocomposite growth by varying precursor and surfactant concentrations and their efficiency within different pH ranges. All three ZnO/Zn2TiO4 nanocomposites exhibited hexagonal wurtzite ZnO and Zn2TiO4 structures. The crystallite size in these nanocomposites ranged from 39.50 nm to 62.67 nm for ZnO and 21.24 nm to 26.15 nm for Zn2TiO4. Morphological observations using FESEM revealed the formation of dispersed cotton packet-like nanocomposites with sizes ranging from 18 to 350 nm. FTIR analysis showed peaks indicative of Ti–O and Zn–O bond formation, and EDX spectrum confirmed the presence of Ti, O, and Zn. UV spectrums and photocatalytic investigations confirmed the successful formation of ZnO/Zn2TiO4 nanocomposites with notable photocatalytic degradation efficiency for methylene blue dye under various conditions. These findings suggest the potential applicability of the synthesized nanocomposites for environmental pollutant degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution caused by heavy metal ions has become a major health problem across the world. In this study, a selective colorimetric sensor based on starch functionalized silver nanoparticles (St-Ag NPs) for rapid detection of Hg2+ in real samples was developed. The environmentally friendly green approach was utilized to synthesize starch functionalized silver nanoparticles (St-AgNPs). A multi-technique approach involving UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used for the characterization of St-Ag NPs. These starch functionalized AgNPs were tested for the detection of heavy metals at 25 °C. The screening process revealed clear changes in the AgNPs color and absorption intensity only in the presence of Hg2+ due to the redox reaction between Ag0 and Hg2+. The color and absorption intensity of nanoparticles remain unchanged in the presence of all the other tested metals ion. The proposed method has strong selectivity and sensitivity to Hg2+ ions, with a detection limit of 1 ppm revealed by UV-visible spectrophotometry. The proposed procedure was found to be successful for the detection of Hg2+ in real samples of tap water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A green synthesis of polymer clay nanocomposites (PCNs) was carried out by in situ polymerization for their potential in order to remove the heavy metal from aqueous solution. At first stage, cloisite was functionalized using Vinyl Triethoxy Silane (VTES) to generate radicals on its surface. After functionalization, the monomer was grafted at these functional sites. The grafting was induced by varying initiator ratio (1.0 2.0 and 3. 0wt %). The maximum grafting of 78% was obtained with 2.0%wt initiator. To enhance number of active sorption sites the PNCs were further modified using hydroxylamine hydrochloride (NH2OH.HCl). The characterizations of prepared samples were carried out via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X- Ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The adsorption potential of prepared sorbents was checked for lead metal ions via Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The prepared PCNs showed 92% adsorption potential of Pb(II) ion at 5.0 pH with 240 min contact time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research describes the synthesis of a novel type of poly [cyclotriphosphazene-co-1,3,5-triol nitrobenzene] (PCTNB) microspheres with uniform size and diameter of more than 2 μm having well characterization. These microspheres are further used to wrap the CNTs by a facile route using template based non-covalent method to form PCTNB@CNTs composite. This composite is further well analyzed before it is subjected to pyrolysis. The direct carbonization of the PCTNB@CNTs is performed at 600 °C at a rate of 5 °C/min under N 2 atmosphere to render the N, P, O doped carbonized PCTNB@CNTs having enhanced electronic features to be applied as an ORR electrocatalysts in fuel cells accompanied by TEM, XPS, Raman, FT-IR, TGA and BET analyses. Here, we have designed a metal-free, N, P, O doped (C-PCTNB@CNTs) electro-catalyst which exhibit significantly high ORR performance in acidic PEM cells showing much higher onset potential of (0.94 V) and half-wave potential of (0.85 V) with electron transfer number ( n ) 3.9 at 0.4–0.7 V as compared to other non-metallic electro-catalysts. Thus, (C-PCTNB@CNTs) is a metal-free, methanol tolerant carbon-based ORR catalyst, and it opens up new avenues for clean energy generation for affordable and durable fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of gamma radiation on levofloxacin. Powder form of levofloxacin was subjected to different radiation doses (25, 50, 75, 100 and 125kGy) of Cobalt-60 source in a Gammacell-220 at a rate of 8.5 Gray/hr. The effect of radiation has been investigated with the aid of different spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis, FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and by antibacterial activities. UV data did not reveal significant changes in the structure of levofloxacin which is supported by scanning electron microscopy. However, X-rays diffraction shows a change in crystallinity of levofloxacin to an amorphous structure and this has been reflected on the morphology of this compound as indicated by SEM images. The antibacterial activities, on the other hand, reveal resistance of irradiated levofloxacin against bacteria, where some bacteria were highly affected by the irradiated drug. Similarly, FT-IR data show some changes in the functional groups principal absorption bands, in the IR spectrum, at frequencies 3286, 2846, 1716 and 1620 cm-1 for the O-H stretching band of quinolone, C-H stretching band, and C=O stretching band of carboxylic and pyridine. In addition, new peaks appeared which were not seen in the non-irradiated spectrum. In conclusion, some changes occurred in levofloxacin drug with the passage of radiation but the drug was chemically stable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, graphene has attracted the interest of many researchers working on LIB anode materials owing to its unique 2D structure, thermal stability, and fast electron transfer. In this work, RGO/Cu/Cu2O nanocomposites were synthesized through a hydrothermal procedure. The as-prepared nanocomposites exhibited a high lithium storage capacity with improved cycling stability and great rate performance, i.e., the discharge capacity was 371.8 mAh/g after 100 cycles at a current density of 500 mA/g. These excellent properties were associated with the sheet structure symmetry of graphene enriched with the multifunctional Cu-Cu2O component, which prevented aggregation and accommodated the volume changes of the anode material during the charge–discharge tests. The RGO/Cu/Cu2O composite conferred to the LIB anode the ability to resist electrode cracking. The approach proposed in this paper can be also generalized for the synthesis of other carbon-based anode materials for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron oxides are considered promising electrode materials owing to their capability of lithium storage, but their poor conductivity and large volume expansion lead to unsatisfactory cycling stability. In this paper, an inexpensive, highly effective, and facile approach to the synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide composite (Fe3O4/RGO) is designed. The synthesized Fe3O4/RGO composite exhibits high reversible capability and excellent cyclic capacity as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). A reversible capability of 701.8 mAh/g after 50 cycles at a current density of 200 mA·g−1 can be maintained. The synergetic effect of unique structure and high conductivity RGO promises a well soakage of electrolyte, high structure stability, leading to an excellent electrochemical performance. It is believed that the study will provide a feasible strategy to produce transition metal oxide/carbon composite electrodes with excellent electrochemical performance for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]