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Nanotechnology: is the art and science of dealing with nanoscale particles. This has transformed contemporary dental practices through myriad contributions to biomaterial science. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles procured from Bacillus subtilis, an eco-friendly and biogenic source, can significantly magnify the physiochemical attributes of dental materials. However, postoperative sensitivity is a major drawback of composite restorations. The incorporation of these nanoparticles into dental adhesives can greatly benefit clinical dentistry by resolving this issue. This trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel titanium dioxide nanofortified adhesive on the postoperative sensitivity of composite restorations. Methods: This triple-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Islamabad, from May 15, 2023, to November 25, 2023. Participants (n = 60) with Class I and II primary carious lesions with a minimum cavity depth of 3–5 mm were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 30). After obtaining informed consent, the restorative procedure was accomplished using a minimally invasive approach and etch-and-rinse adhesive strategy. In group A, a nanofortified adhesive was used for composite restoration, whereas in group B, an adhesive without nanoparticles was used. Postoperative sensitivity was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score at follow-up periods: of one day, one week, two weeks and one month. A Chi-square test was used to compare postoperative sensitivity between the two groups. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A noteworthy association was observed between sensitivity and the group variable at all four evaluation periods: after one day (p = 0.002), 1 week (p = 0.002), 2 weeks (p = 0.007) and one month. In conclusion, participants who underwent restorative intervention using titanium dioxide nanoreinforced adhesives reported a notable reduction in sensitivity at all time intervals. Hence, the occurrence and severity of postoperative sensitivity are significantly reduced using Bacillus subtilis-procured nanofortified adhesives as compared to conventional adhesives without nanoparticles. Trial registration: This trial was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT06242184) on 03/02/2024. All procedures involving human participants were performed in conformance with this protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most abundant municipal polymer waste due to its widespread use in plastic industry. Therefore, its catalytic recycling into valuable products is of great interest. This study aims to achieve catalytic pyrolysis of PET into useful hydrocarbons. The pyrolysis of PET was carried out in the presence of aluminum in the temperature range of 450–650°C using a batch steel reactor, which resulted in wax, pyro-gases, and coke. The amount of wax was maximum at 500°C, whereas higher temperature favored formation of pyro-gases; however, pyrolysis oil formation was not observed. The gas chromatography mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis revealed that PET was degraded mainly into benzene derivatives through random scission of ester linkages. Knowing this fact, PET was copyrolized with polyethylene (which is readily convertible to pyrolysis oil) so as to increase aromatic hydrocarbons in pyrolysis oil by the interaction of degradation fragments of both polymers. The copyrolysis resulted in aromatics in the pyrolysis oil, which were further increased by the application of aluminum catalyst. Long chain paraffins were predominant in thermal pyrolysis oil with relatively higher amounts of carboxylic acids, alcohols, and ketones, which rendered the fuel heavier and acidic. In contrast, the catalytic pyrolysis oil contained lighter hydrocarbons with lower amount of acidic and oxygenated compounds, which could be attributed to enhanced scission and deoxygenation reactions by aluminum catalyst. The catalytic process also increased isoparaffins, olefins, and naphthenes in pyrolysis oil. These functionalities could further improve the fuel quality and combustion properties of pyrolysis oil. These findings have broader implications in terms of producing better fuel from waste plastics with the desirable fuel properties, as well as their mitigation from the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of novel titania-nanoparticle reinforced bonding agent on post-restorative sensitivity in patients. Methods: This triple-blinded, randomized clinical trial included participants (n = 60) having Class- I and II cavitations with a minimum cavity depth of 3mm at Department of Operative Dentistry & Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad from January 5, 2023, to June 20, 2023. They were randomly assigned into two groups A and B (n = 30). After informed consent, restorative intervention was accomplished using an etch-and-rinse adhesive strategy. In Group-A, titania-nanoparticle-incorporated bonding agent was used for composite restoration, while in Group-B, bonding agent without nanoparticles was used. The primary outcome was assessed using Visual Analogue Scale mean score. Participants were instructed to rate their sensitivity status at follow-ups: 24 hours, one week, and one month. Mann-Whitney U test was employed to compare sensitivity between the two groups. Results: According to results of this trial, a significant difference was observed between two groups after 24 hours (p = 0.004) and one week (p = 0.002). However, no discernible difference was observed after one month (p = 0.643). Conclusion: Post-restorative sensitivity in patients with composite restorations was reduced using titania-reinforced bonding agents as compared to bonding agents without nanoparticles. This shows that inclusion of titania nanoparticles into adhesive dentistry could be beneficial in resolving post-restorative sensitivity occurring with composite restorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the complex dynamics of changes in LULC over three decades, focused on the years 1992, 2002, 2012, and 2022. The research highlights the significance of comprehending these alterations within the framework of environmental and socio-economic consequences. The changes in land use and land cover (LULC) have significant and far-reaching effects on ecosystems, biodiversity, and human livelihoods. This study offers useful information for politicians, conservationists, and urban planners by examining historical patterns and forecasting future changes. The study utilized a Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network (MLP-NN), a well-known machine learning technique that excels at collecting intricate patterns. This model’s design had three layers: input, hidden, and output. The model underwent 10,000 iterations during its training process, and a thorough statistical analysis was conducted to assess the impact of each driving component. The MLP-NN model demonstrated impressive performance, with a skill measure of 0.8724 and an accuracy rate of 89.08%. The accuracy of the LULC estimates for 2022 was verified by comparing them with observed data, ensuring the model’s reliability. Moreover, the presence of evidence likely was found to be a significant factor that had a substantial impact on the accuracy of the model. The study highlights the effectiveness of the MLP-NN model in accurately predicting changes in LULC. The model’s exceptional accuracy and proficiency make it a powerful tool for future LULC forecasts. Identifying the primary causes of model performance and understanding their implications may help to enhance land management strategies, encourage spatial planning, guide accurate decision-making, and facilitate the development of policies that align with sustainable growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although Dengue fever is affecting various tropical and sub-tropical regions but it is common disease in Pakistan at time of floods. It can be easily managed with appropriate knowledge of disease and preventive measures only. Objective: To estimate knowledge perception and prevention awareness of individuals with respect to sociodemographic characteristics towards Dengue fever. Study type, settings & duration: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad from February to April 2023. Methodology: Close-Ended structured questionnaire with non-probability convenience sampling was used, where 384 participants belonged to age groups between 15-60 years. Total 25 questions were employed to calculate disease knowledge whereas 11 Questions to investigate prevention awareness. Chi-Square Test was used to evaluate categorical values and their association was estimated with p-value <0.05. Results: It was observed that 44% of the participants had good disease knowledge and prevention awareness (45.05%) among young participants belonging to 15-30 years. Moderate disease knowledge (31.51%) and prevention awareness (33.59%) was observed among participants belonging to 31-40 years of age, while poor disease knowledge (23.43%) and prevention awareness (23.43%) was demonstrated among participants belonging to 41-60 years of age (p-value =0.001). Conclusion: Overall Dengue disease knowledge and prevention awareness among young participants (15-30Years) was better as compared to middle age and elderly participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]