Population and conservation threats to the vulnerable Sarus crane Grus antigone in Nepal.

Globally, biodiversity is declining due to habitat loss and degradation, over-exploitation, climate change, invasive species, pollution, and infrastructure development. These threats affect the populations of large waterbird species, such as Sarus crane (Grus antigone), which inhabits agricultural-wetland ecosystems. Despite the burgeoning built-up areas and diminishing agricultural and wetland spaces, scant research investigates the impact of these changing land uses on the globally vulnerable Sarus crane in Nepal. During the pre-breeding season from April to June 2023, our comprehensive study meticulously scrutinized Sarus crane population status and factors associated with the occurrences and conservation challenges across 10 specific districts of Nepal. Our study documented a total of 690 individuals of Sarus cranes in five districts. The Lumbini Province has 685 individuals, occupying 11 roosting sites. Conversely, the remaining five districts have no Sarus cranes presence during this period. Wetland, farmland and built-up areas exhibited a significantly positive influence on Sarus crane occurrences in the Lumbini Province. Additionally, we recorded 47 fatalities of Sarus cranes over the past 13 years in the Lumbini Province due to electrocution and collisions. Our study provides a baseline dataset crucial for developing conservation policies, particularly during the dry season when Sarus crane populations tend to congregate in larger flocks. The adaptation of the Sarus crane to urbanized landscapes exposes them to several anthropogenic threats in the coming days. Therefore, protecting wetlands and farmland areas and adopting transboundary conservation approaches are imperative for the long-term conservation of the Sarus crane and its habitat.

Sexual dimorphism of inferior alveolar canal location: A record- based CBCT Study in Eastern India.

Background: Sex determination from unidentified skeletal remains a daunting task in forensic odontology. The mandible is the strongest and most durable of bones available for post-mortem profiling and its morphometric characteristics have been investigated. Less explored is the location of the mandibular canal which in a few populations has shown gender dimorphism. Aim: The present cross-sectional study explores sexual dimorphism in an eastern Indian population of Odisha from an analysis of cone-beam CT system (CBCT) images for the relative position of the mandibular canal and its foramina. Method and Materials: A total of 120 CBCT images from either gender (1:1 ratio) of adult dentate individuals aged 18-60 years were analysed for the relative position of the mandibular canal. Ten measurements (8- coronal and 2- from axial slices) concerning the mandibular canal; at the level of the mandibular foramen, mandibular first molar and mental foramen were performed. Unpaired Student's t-test was employed to compare variables between the sexes at P < 0.05 level of significance. Results: The results revealed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between the genders in most of the variables (8/10), with higher mean values in males compared to females except in the distance between mandibular foramen and anterior border of the ramus (2.648 ± 0.67 mm in females, 2.527 ± 0.75 mm in males) and in the distance between the canal and lingual cortical plate in the region of the first molar (14.515 ± 1.33 mm in females, 14.288 ± 2.01 mm in males). Conclusion: The relative position of the mandibular canal and its associated foramina show sexual dimorphism in an adult eastern Indian population.

Study protocol of a multiphase optimization strategy trial (MOST) for delivery of smoking cessation treatment in lung cancer screening settings.

BACKGROUND: There is widespread agreement that the integration of cessation services in lung cancer screening (LCS) is essential for achieving the full benefits of LCS with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT). There is a formidable knowledge gap about how to best design feasible, effective, and scalable cessation services in LCS facilities. A collective of NCI-funded clinical trials addressing this gap is the Smoking Cessation at Lung Examination (SCALE) Collaboration. METHODS: The Cessation and Screening to Save Lives (CASTL) trial seeks to advance knowledge about the reach, effectiveness, and implementation of tobacco treatment in lung cancer screening. We describe the rationale, design, evaluation plan, and interventions tested in this multiphase optimization strategy trial (MOST). A total of 1152 screening-eligible current smokers are being recruited from 18 LCS sites (n = 64/site) in both academic and community settings across the USA. Participants receive enhanced standard care (cessation advice and referral to the national Quitline) and are randomized to receive additional tobacco treatment components (motivational counseling, nicotine replacement patches/lozenges, message framing). The primary outcome is biochemically validated, abstinence at 6 months follow-up. Secondary outcomes are self-reported smoking abstinence, quit attempts, and smoking reduction at 3 and 6 months. Guided by the Implementation Outcomes Framework (IOF), our evaluation includes measurement of implementation processes (reach, fidelity, acceptability, appropriateness, sustainability, and cost). CONCLUSION: We will identify effective treatment components for delivery by LCS sites. The findings will guide the assembly of an optimized smoking cessation package that achieves superior cessation outcomes. Future trials can examine the strategies for wider implementation of tobacco treatment in LDCT-LCS sites. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03315910.

Hydrolytically stable citrate capped Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2 MOF: A hetero-structure composite with enhanced activity towards Cr (VI) adsorption and photocatalytic H2 evolution.

Design and facile fabrication of a magnetically separable hetero-structure photocatalyst as well as an adsorbent having dual green benefits towards energy conversion and pollutant remediation are quite indispensable in the current scenario. In this regard, a composite of citrate capped Fe3O4 and UiO-66-NH2 has been designed to remediate Cr (VI) by adsorption and harvest photons from visible light for clean energy (H2) conversion. The material was prepared by the union of citrate capped Fe3O4 (CCM) and versatile aqueous stable Zr-based MOF (UiO-66-NH2) through in-situ solvothermal method. The composite of CCM with MOF (MU-2) was studied through sophisticated analysis techniques; PXRD, FT-IR, BET, UV-Visible DRS, PL, TG, HRTEM and XPS etc. to reveal the inherent characteristics of the material. BET surface analysis revealed high specific surface area (572.13 m2 g-1) of MU-2 in comparison to its pristine MOF. Furthermore, the dual function composite MU-2's VSM studies showed that its magnetic saturation is 3.07 emu g-1 that is suitable for magnetic separation after desired reaction from aqueous media. The Cr (VI) sorption studies revealed that the composite adsorbent (MU-2) showed maximum monolayer adsorption capacity (Qm) of 743 mg g-1 which followed pseudo second order kinetics. Moreover, the sorption thermodynamics revealed that the process was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. In addition to it, the synthesized composite material displayed enhanced activity towards photocatalytic H2 evolution with a maximum evolution rate of 417 µmole h-1 with an apparent conversion efficiency (ACE) of 3.12 %. Typically, MU-2 displays high adsorptions of Cr (VI) as well as some extent of Cr (VI) reduction owning to its populous active sites and free carboxylate groups respectively. Moreover, the synergistic effect of CCM and UNH in the composite resulted in Z scheme mediated charge transfer mechanism that showed enhanced H2 photo-evolution rates. Hence, MU-2 can be readily utilized as magnetically retrievable dual function composite for Cr (VI) adsorption and photocatalytic H2 evolution.

Exfoliated Boron Nitride (e-BN) Tailored Exfoliated Graphitic Carbon Nitride (e-CN): An Improved Visible Light Mediated Photocatalytic Approach towards TCH Degradation and H2 Evolution.

A series of 2D/2D exfoliated boron nitride/exfoliated g-C3N4 nanocomposites denoted as e-BN/e-CN have been successfully prepared using a simple in situ technique. The successful deposition of e-BN on e-CN was confirmed from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis. According to electrochemical measurements, 1.5 wt % e-BN/e-CN nanocomposites showed 1.5 times more photocurrent than e-CN, which indicates the successful formation of an e-BN/e-CN heterostructure. The photocatalytic activities of the e-CN and e-BN/e-CN composites were investigated through photocatalytic tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) degradation and H2 evolution under visible light illumination. The 1.5 wt % e-BN/e-CN composite demonstrated the highest photocatalytic activities, which are about 21 and 1.5 fold greater than e-CN towards H2 generation with an apparent conversion efficiency of 2.34% and TCH degradation, respectively. The improved photocatalytic activities of e-BN/e-CN photocatalysts were ascribed to the augmented light-harvesting ability and enhanced separation efficiency of charge carriers. Lower photoluminescence intensity and a smaller arc value in the impedance spectra again proved the reduced recombination of the e--h+ pairs in the e-BN/e-CN nanocomposites. Trapping experiments show that •O2-, h+, and •OH radicals are the predominant reactive species that accelerated the photocatalytic activities of e-BN/e-CN composites. This study opens up a new window towards the fabrication of such 2D/2D nanocomposites in the field of photocatalysis.

Efficient Photon Conversion via Double Charge Dynamics CeO2-BiFeO3 p-n Heterojunction Photocatalyst Promising toward N2 Fixation and Phenol-Cr(VI) Detoxification.

For better exciton separation and high catalytic activity, the most trailblazing stratagem is to construct defect engineered low-dimensional p-n heterojunction framed photocatalytic systems. In this context, we have developed a rod-sheet (1D-2D) p-n heterojunction of MCeO2-BiFeO3 by a simple hydrothermal method and scrutinized its photocatalytic performance toward N2 fixation and phenol/Cr(VI) detoxification. The intimate contact between MCeO2 and BiFeO3 in the junction material is well established via X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrosopy (DRS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoelectrochemical studies. Further, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and TEM pictures clearly support the decoration of MCeO2 nanorods over BiFeO3 sheets and also depict the junction boundary. Additionally, photoluminescence (PL), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman measurements give solid evidence toward the presence of an oxygen vacancy. Moreover, the Mott-Schottky result indicates a feasible band edge potential favoring the p-n heterojunction with a built-in electric field between BiFeO3 and MCeO2 favoring a double charge dynamic. The MCeO2-BFO p-n junction displays a notable catalytic activity, i.e., 98.2% Cr(VI) reduction and 85% phenol photo-oxidation, and produces 117.77 µmol h-1 g-1 of ammonia under light irradiation. Electrochemical analysis suggests a four-electron/five proton-coupled N2 photoreduction pathway. The designed oxygen vacancy oriented p-n heterojunction suffering double charge migration shows significant catalytic performance due to effective electron-hole separation as justified via PL, electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS), and Bode phase analysis.

Resurrection of boron nitride in p-n type-II boron nitride/B-doped-g-C3N4 nanocomposite during solid-state Z-scheme charge transfer path for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride.

Antibiotic contaminants have received much attention due to the increasing serious environmental concerns. In this work, for the first time, we have fabricated a series of significant type-II p-n heterostructure with Z-scheme charge transfer between p-type B-doped g-C3N4 with different proportion of n-type BN through a simple in-situ growth process. PXRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, FESEM, HRTEM and EIS analysis were applied for the detailed characterization of the as-prepared composites to study the crystal phase, structural features, optical and electrical properties. The photocatalytic behaviour of BN/BCN photocatalyst was investigated by the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride under solar light illumination. Experimental results revealed that about 88.1% of TCH was degraded by the BN/BCN composite containing 4 wt% BN in the BN/BCN matrix, in 60 min of solar light irradiation. Reduction in recombination rate of photo generated electron-hole pair's and enhanced visible light absorption ability is credited to the enhanced photocatalytic performance of BN/BCN composite. Trapping experiment for the scavenging agents has confirmed that superoxide (O2¯) and hydroxyl (OH) radicals are the main reactive species during the TCH degradation process. The high stability shown by the BN/BCN composite opens a new path for designing of significant BN based Z-scheme photocatalyst for prevention of environmental issues.

Cr(VI) remediation from aqueous environment through modified-TiO2-mediated photocatalytic reduction.

Cr(VI) exhibits cytotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic properties; hence, effluents containing Cr(VI) from various industrial processes pose threat to aquatic life and downstream users. Various treatment techniques, such as chemical reduction, ion exchange, bacterial degradation, adsorption and photocatalysis, have been exploited for remediation of Cr(VI) from wastewater. Among these, photocatalysis has recently gained considerable attention. The applications of photocatalysis, such as water splitting, CO2 reduction, pollutant degradation, organic transformation reactions, N2 fixation, etc., towards solving the energy crisis and environmental issues are briefly discussed in the Introduction of this review. The advantages of TiO2 as a photocatalyst and the importance of its modification for photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) has also been addressed. In this review, the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 after modification with carbon-based advanced materials, metal oxides, metal sulfides and noble metals towards reduction of Cr(VI) was evaluated and compared with that of bare TiO2. The photoactivity of dye-sensitized TiO2 for reduction of Cr(VI) was also discussed. The mechanism for enhanced photocatalytic activity was highlighted and attributed to the resultant properties, namely, effective separation of photoinduced charge carriers, extension of the light absorption range and intensity, increase of the surface active sites, and higher photostability. Advantages and limitations for photoreduction of Cr(VI) over modified TiO2 are depicted in the Conclusion. The various challenges that restrict the technology from practical applications in remediation of Cr(VI) from wastewater were addressed in the Conclusion section as well. The future perspectives of the field presented in this review are focused on the development of whole-solar-spectrum responsive, TiO2-coupled photocatalysts which provide efficient photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) along with their good recoverability and recyclability.

Pyrochlore Ce2Zr2O7 decorated over rGO: a photocatalyst that proves to be efficient towards the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and degradation of ciprofloxacin under visible light.

In the present study, a series of Ce2Zr2O7@rGO nanocomposites were synthesized using a simple solution combustion method followed by a photoreduction technique. The as-prepared samples were well characterised using various analytical techniques to determine the morphological, optical, structural, electrochemical and compositional properties. The presence of oxygen defects was observed from Raman and photoluminescence spectra. The photoreduction of GO to rGO was determined from Raman and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results. The role of rGO proved to be quite significant for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites. The synergistic communication between Ce2Zr2O7 and rGO accelerates the photoreduction of 4-nitrophenol along with the degradation of ciprofloxacin under visible light irradiation. Of the rGO nanocomposites, 3 wt% GO loaded Ce2Zr2O7 reduces 99% of 20 ppm of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in 120 min and decomposes 10 ppm of ciprofloxacin by up to 89% in 60 min. The significant enhancement in the activity of the Ce2Zr2O7@rGO nanocomposite was ascribed to the effective charge separation of excitons through π-conjugation of graphene at the interface, which is well supported by the impedance, photoluminescence and photocatalytic results.