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Recently, waste materials have garnered attention for their potential in providing clean and affordable energy through thermochemical conversion techniques. They play a significant role in transforming waste into eco-friendly energy, but the proper selection of materials is crucial for successful thermochemical conversion. The primary objective of this study is to assess combustion efficiency based on activation energy, utilizing TGA and DTG analysis. Rice husk (RH), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste materials were chosen for investigation. Experiments were conducted at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 600 °C, with varying heating rates of 10, 20, 30, and 40 °C min-1. The apparent activation energy of the feedstocks was determined using five different iso-conversional model-free approaches, namely Kissinger Akahira Sunose (KAS), Friedman, Flynn Wall Ozawa (FWO), Starink, and Tang methods. The apparent activation energy for rice husk, LDPE, and PET fell within the range of 113-123 kJ mol-1, 101-101 kJ mol-1and105-117kJmol-1, respectively This research also contributes to establishing Comprehensive Pyrolysis Index (CPI) values to identify suitable sources for pyrolysis and gasification. According to CPI results, temperatures between 500 to 600 °C are optimal for pyrolysis, and an increase in heating rate enhances the output of pyrolysis products. A higher CPI index is favorable for achieving both a high calorific value and increased hydrocarbon contents.

Gold ornaments are always been seen as a metal of pride and happiness. It is also considered to be one of the auspicious costliest metals. Gold rate is found at an increasing rate from an early period. This paper analyzes the gold rate at six different cities in India. For each of the cities, neutrosophic mean and coefficient of variation have been calculated. The analysis results have been presented. In addition to that the neutrosophic analysis based on each month also has been calculated. The results help to know the beneficial month and city for the purchase of gold.

The pandemic situation created by COVID’19 is ridiculous. It has made even the blood relations hide themselves from the infected person. The whole world was stunned by this situation. This is because of the uncertainty in the way in which this disease is spread. As an advancement of this disease, a few other variants like delta, omicron etc. also got spread. It is essential to find a solution to this situation . The variants Omicron and Delta are taken into consideration here. Though both the vibrant colours look alike, the symptoms and prevention methods changes for each of these vibrants. This work aims to make a study of the parameters responsible for these variants. As a result of this study, the parameters involved in the spread of these diseases are identified, and the prevention parameters are concluded. The major benefit of this comparatively study is to identify the parameters that are inconclusive, applying the concepts of fuzzy cognitive maps and neutrosophic cognitive maps is applied to bring out the result.

The exceptional and appealing qualities of the polysaccharide biopolymer chitosan, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility and nontoxicity have been successfully utilized in the creation of specialized polysaccharide-based composite material. The bio-nano composites in the current work were prepared by combining curcumin nanoparticles of two distinct sizes that were produced using a green method with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC). Additional testing methods used for the composite include XRD, TEM, UV-Vis, and FTIR. XRD and TEM provided data on things like grain size, crystalline nature, shape and size respectively. Curcumin interacts with the NH2 group of Carboxymethyl Chitosan (CMC) which is confirmed through FTIR spectra. UV-Vis spectra indicate a blue shift when the particle size decreases. The conductivity of the CMC with curcumin is high than the pristine. The CMC with curcumin enhances the conductivity. The CMC with curcumin nanoparticle S1 has higher conductivity than the curcumin nanoparticle S2 has the lower conductivity. The conductivity for the curcumin with smaller size (9 nm) has higher conductivity(12.35 mS) when compare with larger size (18 nm) of curcumin has the lower conductivity (11.38 mS). The composite with higher conductivity has good antimicrobial activities against C. glabrata and A.niger .The detailed results are presented and discussed.

The unsustainable use of resources and the rising demand for traditional concrete have disrupted ecological equilibrium, necessitating the adoption of a more appropriate and long-lasting alternative. One such substitute for cement in concrete production is geopolymer concrete, although this material is prone to cracking and fracturing due to its low tensile strength, leading to costly repairs or even structural collapse. Fiber-reinforced concrete has recently been widely adopted as a construction material to counteract these issues. This research examined the crack proliferation and fracture toughness of geopolymer concrete comprising different fibers using a cracked Brazilian disc. Four different fibers were used, such as polypropylene and steel fiber (short and long), at a dosage of 1.5% by volume. Fracture toughness was computed for various modes (I, II, and I/II) of fractures, and crack propagation from cracked specimens was studied. A different angle of inclination (0, 15, 28, 83, 60, 75, and 90 degrees) was used to conduct the Brazilian disc test on the specimens with respect to the preexisting crack direction. The findings indicate that the increasing loading angle increased the load-carrying capacity. The fracture toughness values of specimens under all three modes ranged from 0.26 to 1.75 MPa.m1/2. Additionally, long polypropylene and steel fibers exhibit higher fracture toughness than short fibers.

Green synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles is now receiving great attention because of their numerous applications such as optics, catalysis, and biomedicine. In this work, gold nanoparticles were synthesized from peel extract of sweet lime (Citrus limetta Risso), which is usually discarded as a bio-waste. Bioactive components present in the fruit peel extract act as reducing and capping agents for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles from chloroauric acid (HAuCl4). The visual color change from light yellow to ruby red suggested the formation of gold nanoparticles, which was further confirmed by the maximum absorption peak at 530 nm of colloidal suspension measured by UV–vis spectroscopy. XRD spectra indicated the crystalline nature of prepared gold nanoparticles. The average crystallite size of gold nanoparticles measured from prominent peaks of XRD was found to be around 64 nm (size range: 50–80 nm), which was further supported by FESEM analysis. The components responsible for the reduction of chloroauric acid into gold nanoparticles were analyzed by FTIR, which suggested the presence of several phytochemicals e.g. phenol, carboxylic acid, amines, and alkynes in the fruit peel extract. Green prepared gold nanoparticle was further evaluated for its antioxidant and catalytic activity. Green gold nanoparticles exhibited excellent antioxidant activity evident by scavenging/inhibition of free oxygen/nitrogen radical generation. Furthermore, green gold nanoparticles demonstrated excellent catalytic activity indicated by the reduction of 4-nitrophenol into 4-aminophenol. This study highlights the significance of bio-waste for the production of nanostructure of noble metals for numerous applications.

Eco-friendly and inexpensive syntheses of metal-based nanocomposites is now gaining attention for their potential exploitation in biomedical and environmental fields. In this study, green method was applied to synthesize chitosan-modified platinum-doped silver nanocomposites (Ch-Pt-Ag NCs) using leaf extract of Desmostachya bipinnata, a plant with several medicinal values. Synthesis of Ch-Pt-Ag NCs was proven by XRD, SEM, FTIR, and TGA characterizations. Photocatalytic and biological activities of green-prepared Ch-Pt-Ag NCs were further explored. Crystallites of Ch-Pt-Ag NCs exhibited a mean size of 24 nm measured by XRD. SEM analysis indicated the formation of cubic and rod-shaped structures of Ch-Pt-Ag NCs. Functional groups present in plant extract were responsible for stabilizing and capping of Ch-Pt-Ag NCs, which were confirmed by FTIR analysis. Green synthesized Ch-Pt-Ag NCs exhibited dose-dependent anti-inflammatory and larvicidal (anti-dengue) activities. Green prepared Ch-Pt-Ag NCs exerted very low toxicity in Brine shrimp lethality assay indicated the biocompatible nature of synthesized nanostructures. The Ch-Pt-Ag NCs were also examined as a photocatalytic agent, resulting in 98% degradation of Rhodamine dye. Green synthesized Ch-Pt-Ag NCs with great biological and photocatalytic activities warrants further research on its biomedical and environmental fields.

The present investigation explore the biosynthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) by simple Co-precipitation method using Eudrilus eugeniae vermi wash and its applications to the seed germination of green gram (Vigna radiata). UV–Visible Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirm the formation of CuO and its interaction with the functional group of enzymes present in the vermin wash. X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy; Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis reveals the crystalline structure morphology, and elements of the CuO NPs. In order to evaluate the bio-potential properties of CuO NPs, a seed germination studies were carried out with green gram (V. radiata) with different concentrations of CuO NPs, and the result reveals that CuO NPs show a positive influence on the germination of green gram.

While various methods exist for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), green synthesis has emerged as a promising approach due to its affordability, sustainability, and suitability for biomedical purposes. However, green synthesis is time-consuming, necessitating the development of efficient and cost-effective techniques to minimize reaction time. Consequently, researchers have turned their attention to photo-driven processes. In this study, we present the photoinduced bioreduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) to AgNPs using an aqueous extract of Ulva lactuca, an edible green seaweed. The phytochemicals found in the seaweed functioned as both reducing and capping agents, while light served as a catalyst for biosynthesis. We explored the effects of different light intensities and wavelengths, the initial pH of the reaction mixture, and the exposure time on the biosynthesis of AgNPs. Confirmation of AgNP formation was achieved through the observation of a surface plasmon resonance band at 428 nm using an ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometer. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the presence of algae-derived phytochemicals bound to the outer surface of the synthesized AgNPs. Additionally, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images demonstrated that the NPs possessed a nearly spherical shape, ranging in size from 5 nm to 40 nm. The crystalline nature of the NPs was confirmed by selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), with Bragg’s diffraction pattern revealing peaks at 2θ = 38°, 44°, 64°, and 77°, corresponding to the planes of silver 111, 200, 220, and 311 in the face-centered cubic crystal lattice of metallic silver. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) results exhibited a prominent peak at 3 keV, indicating an Ag elemental configuration. The highly negative zeta potential values provided further confirmation of the stability of AgNPs. Moreover, the reduction kinetics observed via UV-vis spectrophotometry demonstrated superior photocatalytic activity in the degradation of hazardous pollutant dyes, such as rhodamine B, methylene orange, Congo red, acridine orange, and Coomassie brilliant blue G-250. Consequently, our biosynthesized AgNPs hold great potential for various biomedical redox reaction applications.

Lepidium sativum (garden cress) is a folk medicine that exhibited several therapeutic applications including anti-asthma, antihypertension, and bone healing. This study aimed to investigate the effects of L. sativum seeds on healing of fractured bone in male albino rats (Rattus rattus albinus). Twenty male albino rats were randomly divided into four groups (each group contains 5 rats); Non-Broken Control (NBC), Broken Control Non-Treated (BCNT), Broken Treated with 1 g/kg of seed powder (BT1g), and Broken Treated with 5 g/kg of seeds powder (BT5g). Right tibial closed fractures were created in the rats using a three-point bending technique. Serum Ca2+ level and Alkaline phosphatase tests were examined in all groups. Digital radiography was applied for three times, at the beginning, after 3 weeks, and 6 weeks. Histopathological study was done for right limb tibia bones. Results showed that the highest level of ALP was in the BT5g group after 3 weeks. However, after 6 weeks ALP level was the lowest in the BT5g group followed by the BT1g group. Serum Ca2+ level was higher in BT5g group after 6 weeks as compared to same group after 3 weeks. The X-ray photography shows that in treatment groups a clear improvement in bone healing that was revealed by an obvious callus and to a large extent a blurred fracture line. We also observed that after 6 weeks, the healing and recovery of broken bones were almost completed in L. sativum treated groups, especially in the BT5g group. Histology data further confirm the distinctive features of bone healing after feeding of seeds powder. Overall, our data suggested that seed of L. sativum has potential to speed up the callus formation, fracture line repairing, and new bone regeneration. This study highlights the importance of folk herbs in healing of fractured bones.

Recent studies are now focussing on synthesis of metal oxide based nanocomposites because of their exceptional physicochemical characteristics. In this study, CuO-SiO2 nanocomposite (CuONC) and Fe-doped CuO-SiO2 nanocomposite (FeCuONC) were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. XRD, SEM, EDX, FTIR, UV-vis, PSA, and TGA were utilized to confirm the synthesis of CuONC and FeCuONC. The in vitro biological activities and in vivo toxicity (zebrafish) of CuONC and FeCuONC were explored. The α-amylase assay showed that both CuONC, and FeCuONC exhibit dose-dependent antidiabetic activity. Interestingly, antidiabetic activity of FeCuONC was higher as compared to CuONC. Furthermore, FeCuONC showed higher anti-inflammatory effects (inhibition of denaturation of egg albumin) than those of CuONC. In vivo toxicity study in zebrafish embryos and larvae suggested that FeCuONC induce higher innate immunity response as compared to CuONC. Altogether, we observed that Fe-doped CuO-SiO2 nanocomposites exhibited advance anti-inflammatory effect, sophisticated antidiabetic activity and enhanced innate immunity as compared to CuO-SiO2 nanocomposite. This study warrants further research on therapeutic application of Fe-CuO-SiO2 nanocomposites in suitable mammalian models.

CuO NPs is being applied for various applications including catalyst, electronics, cosmetics, and biomedicines due to its exceptional physicochemical properties. Physical and chemical routes for CuO NPs synthesis raised the concern of environmental hazard due to use of high energy, high temperature, and toxic chemicals. Conversely, green procedure is considered as an inexpensive and eco-friendly approach. To compare in vitro bioactivities and in vivo toxicity, CuO NPs was synthesized by two different methods; green and chemical routes. Leaf extract of a medicinal plant (Salacia reticulate) was used as a reducing and capping agent for green synthesis of CuO NPs. Sodium hydroxide was applied for chemical route of CuO NPs preparation. The in vivo toxicity of both CuO NPs (green and chemical) was examined in zebrafish (Dania rerio) embryos. Several in vitro biological activities e.g. antibacterial, cytotoxicity (in human cells), antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities of both CuO NPs (green and chemical) was also assessed. Prepared CuO NPs (green and chemical) was characterized by SEM-EDX, FTIR, XRD, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Several biomarkers such as hatching rate, malformation, and mortality rate of zebrafish embryos showed that green prepared CuO NPs exerted much lesser toxicity as compared to chemically synthesized CuO NPs. Antibacterial activity of green CuO NPs against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterobacter) and Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria was higher than chemical CuO NPs. Cytotoxicity results showed that human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) were more sensitive to green CuO NPs than chemical CuO NPs. Furthermore, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities of green CuO NPs was greater than those of chemically prepared CuO NPs. This work revealed that in vitro bioactivities of green synthesized CuO NPs was better than chemically synthesized CuO NPs. Green CuO NPs also displayed higher biocompatibility towards zebrafish than chemical CuO NPs. This work highlights the importance eco-friendly green synthesis of CuO NPs for biomedical applications.

The drinking water quality was evaluated in order to provide a continuous supply of clean and safe drinking water for the preservation of public health. The study area consists of three villages: Tulube, Seddo, and Serdo, all of which are located near Mettu town, which is about 550 kilometers south-west of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. The physical and chemical parameters of the collected drinking water samples were assessed, including pH, turbidity, conductivity, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), and the presence of heavy metals. The samples were examined in the laboratory, and the findings were compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Almost all of the physiochemical indicators were safe and within the permissible limit for drinking water quality. However, lead ion concentrations were found to be above the WHO standards. An adsorbent produced from banana pseudostems was used to remove lead ions from drinking water. The equilibrium parameters were determined using the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The drinking water was treated for 4 h in a homemade adsorption column composed of filter medium (sand, charcoal, and powder of treated banana pseudostem). The data revealed that lead ions removal was nearly 70%, but still above the WHO standards.

Reduced global warming is the goal of carbon neutrality. Therefore, batteries are considered to be the best alternatives to current fossil fuels and an icon of the emerging energy industry. Voltaic cells are one of the power sources more frequently employed than photovoltaic cells in vehicles, consumer electronics, energy storage systems, and medical equipment. The most adaptable voltaic cells are lithium-ion batteries, which have the potential to meet the eagerly anticipated demands of the power sector. Working to increase their power generating and storage capability is therefore a challenging area of scientific focus. Apart from typical Li-ion batteries, Li-Air (Li-O2) batteries are expected to produce high theoretical power densities (3505 W h kg−1), which are ten times greater than that of Li-ion batteries (387 W h kg−1). On the other hand, there are many challenges to reaching their maximum power capacity. Due to the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OES), the cathode usually faces many problems. Designing robust structured catalytic electrode materials and optimizing the electrolytes to improve their ability is highly challenging. Graphene is a 2D material with a stable hexagonal carbon network with high surface area, electrical, thermal conductivity, and flexibility with excellent chemical stability that could be a robust electrode material for Li-O2 batteries. In this review, we covered graphene-based Li-O2 batteries along with their existing problems and updated advantages, with conclusions and future perspectives.

Knowledge of immune activation in the brain during acute HIV infection is crucial for the prevention and treatment of HIV-associated neurological disorders. We determined regional brain (basal ganglia, thalamus, and frontal cortex) immune and virological profiles at 7 and 14 days post infection (dpi) with SIVmac239 in rhesus macaques. The basal ganglia and thalamus had detectable viruses earlier (7 dpi) than the frontal cortex (14 dpi) and contained higher quantities of viruses than the latter. Increased immune activation of astrocytes and significant infiltration of macrophages in the thalamus at 14 dpi coincided with elevated plasma viral load, and SIV colocalized only within macrophages. RNA signatures of proinflammatory responses, including IL-6, were detected at 7 dpi in microglia and interestingly, preceded reliable detection of virus in tissues and were maintained in the chronically infected macaques. Countering the proinflammatory response, the antiinflammatory response was not detected until increased TGF-β expression was found in perivascular macrophages at 14 dpi. But this response was not detected in chronic infection. Our data provide evidence that the interplay of acute proinflammatory and antiinflammatory responses in the brain likely contributed to the overt neuroinflammation, where the immune activation preceded reliable viral detection.

Understanding synergistic interface features is a crucial step towards adjustable and controllable interfaces for photocatalytic and photovoltaic devices. In this work, a novel layer‐structured rGO hybrid with SrTiO3 (STO/rGO) based binary composite has developed via hydrothermal method. The highly stable STO/rGO is used to construct a dual‐functional platform for dye, antibiotic degradation and DSSC. The photocatalytic activities of STO/rGO composites were examined using Methylene Blue (MB) and Tetracycline (TC) degradation in an aqueous solution under white light irradiation. The catalyst containing STG‐3 exhibited outstanding photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 93.06 % and 95.23 % toward MB and TC, respectively. In addition, the hybrid composites‐based photoanode had the most outstanding efficiency of 3.74 % with an increase in JSC. The performance is far better than pristine STO. The improved efficiency is ascribed to the strong interconnectivity, excellent crystallinity, higher surface area and high porosity, which results in reduced interfacial charge recombination loss, outstanding dye adsorption and better electron transport. Furthermore, a predicted mechanism is provided to explain the higher performance of STO/rGO hybrid composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive Powder Concretes (RPC) are well known for their exceptional strength properties and durability properties. The use of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) is the best way to enhance the strength and durability characteristics of RPCs further. Among various SCMs, the potential of Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS) is proven by many researchers. However, the effect of GGBS on the fracture toughness of RPCs, especially under the tearing mode, is not explored. This study investigates the effect of partial replacement of OPC with GGBS in non-fibrous and fibrous RPCs, on its mode I (pure opening), mode III (pure tearing), and mixed-mode I/III fracture behaviour. A significant improvement in mode I, mode III, and mixed-mode I/III fracture toughness was observed due to incorporating GGBS and fibres in RPCs. The fibrous mix with 30% OPC, replaced with GGBS, exhibited the highest values of mode I and mode III fracture toughnesses, which were 2.35 MPa·m0.5 and 0.98 MPa·m0.5, respectively, and significantly high compared to the control non-fibrous and fibrous RPC mixes. The study reveals the ability of GGBS as an SCM to improve the fracture toughness of RPC mixes, thereby delaying the failure of the process of structural components.

In recent years, geopolymer concrete (GC) has become more popular in construction because of its multiple benefits, such as eco-friendliness, high temperature resistance and resistance to chemical attack in harsh environments. However, GC has limited deformation capability and tensile strength compared to ordinary concrete. Geopolymer fibrous concrete (GFC) exhibits high mechanical properties, such as compressive strength and impact strength. This study aimed to develop a novel composite comprising GFC at the tension zone and GC at the compression zone, and vice versa, are these composites were examined. The impact resistance of two-layered GC-GFC with various ratios (25–75, 50–50, 75–25%) was examined. In addition, a single layer specimen comprising GC and GFC was fabricated and tested as the reference specimen. Twenty-nine mixtures were developed and divided into four series. Four different types of fibre were used in this study; short polypropylene fibre, long polypropylene fibre, short steel fibre and long steel fibre. The ACI committee 544 drop weight test was used to evaluate the impact strength of specimens. Results indicated that the impact strength of GFC was significantly improved in long steel fibre-based specimens. In addition, two-layered specimens comprising different fibres—short polypropylene, long polypropylene, short steel and long steel—exhibited a positive influence on impact strength. Compared to a single-layer specimen, inferior impact strength was recorded in the two-layered specimen.

Nanotechnology allocate with the production and usage of material with nanoscale dimension, nanoparticles are large surface area to volume ratio and thus very specific properties. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles had been in current studies due to its large bandwidth and high exciton binding energy and it has prospective applications such as electronic, optical, mechanical, magnetic and chemical properties that are significantly different from those of bulk counterpart. The aims of this review to provide a comprehensive view on structural, synthesis and electrochemical properties of the ZnO nanoparticles, which were synthesized by different methods.

In recent decades, geopolymer concrete (GPC) has been extensively researched as a potential substitute sustainable building material that may reduce CO2 emissions due to its utilization of industrial by-products. Fly ash (FA) and ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) are preferred geopolymer raw materials due to their obtainability and high alumina and silica concentrations. GGBFS-FA based GPC offers a clean and sustainable development technology alternative. In this study, the Taguchi method was used to optimize the mixed proportions of geopolymer concrete to achieve desired strength criteria. Four factors and four levels were considered: binder content, including four combinations of FA and GGFBS dosage, dosage of superplasticizer (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2%), Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio (1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3), and molarity (6, 8, 10 and 12). Using these ingredients and factors, the effect of compressive strength was examined. The Taguchi approach using an L16 orthogonal array was employed to find the optimum condition of every factor while limiting the number of experiments. The findings indicated that the optimum synthesis conditions for maximum compressive strength obtained from the binder comprised 45% of FA, 45% of GGBFS and 10% of silica fume, 1.5% dosage of superplasticizer, Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio = 1.5, and 12 molar contents.