Understanding of cervical cancer, acceptability of HPV self-collection, and prevalence of HPV in a semi-urban setting in Bangladesh.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling has been implemented successfully as an alternative to traditional forms of cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings. Through Bangladesh's current national cervical cancer screening program, only about 10% of the at-risk population is reached. Thus, Bangladesh is an ideal setting to consider HPV self-sampling to improve cervical cancer prevention efforts. However, the feasibility and acceptability of HPV self-sampling has not been evaluated in Bangladesh. We aimed to understand levels of HPV and cervical cancer knowledge and to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of HPV self-sampling for cervical cancer screening in a semi-urban Bangladeshi community. Participants were recruited from a local clinic; 164 women completed a cross-sectional questionnaire about attitudes towards screening, and cervical cancer and HPV risk factor knowledge, and provided self-collected cervical samples for high-risk HPV testing. Of the participants, 4.3% tested positive for high-risk HPV and were referred for appropriate follow-up care. Nearly all participants had heard of cervical cancer, though specific knowledge was quite low. Self-sampling for high-risk HPV testing had high rates of acceptability, high rates of convenience, and very little discomfort and embarrassment reported in this study population, making implementing HPV self-sampling as a form of cervical cancer screening in Bangladesh appear feasible.

Investigation of electronic, ferroelectric and local electrical conduction behavior of RF sputtered BiFeO3thin films.

Most of the applied research on BiFeO3(BFO) focuses on magnetoelectric and spintronic applications. This calls for a detailed grasp of multiferroic and conduction properties. BFO thin films with (100) epitaxial growth has been deposited on a LaNiO3(LNO) buffered Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) substrate using RF magnetron sputtering. The film formed at 15 mTorr, 570 °C, and with Ar/O24:1 had a reasonably high degree of (100)-preferential orientation, the least surface roughness, and a densely packed structure. We obtained ferroelectric loops with strong polarization (150µC cm-2). The leakage current density is as low as 10-2A cm-2at 100 kV cm-1, implying that space-charge-limited bulk conduction (SCLC) was the primary conduction channel for carriers within BFO films. Local electrical conduction behavior demonstrates that at lower voltages, the grain boundary dominates electrical conduction and is linked to the displacement of oxygen vacancies in the grain boundary under external electric fields. We hope that a deeper understanding of the conduction mechanism will help integrate BFO into viable technologies.

Recent advances in functional micro/nanomaterials for removal of crude oil via thermal effects.

Crude oil is one of the most widely used energy and industrial raw materials that is crucial to the world economy, and is used to produce various petroleum products. However, crude oil often spills during extraction, transportation and use, causing negative impacts on the environment. Thus, there is a high demand for products to remediate leaked crude oil. Among them, oleophilic and hydrophobic adsorbents can absorb crude oil through thermal effects and are research hotspots. In this review, we first present an overview of wettability theory, the heating principles of various thermal effects, and the theory of reducing crude oil viscosity by heating. Then we discuss adsorbents based on different heating methods including the photothermal effect, Joule heating effect, alternating magnetic field heating effect, and composite heating effect. Preparation methods and oil adsorption performance of adsorbents are summarized. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of various heating methods are briefly summarized, as well as the prospects for future research.

Investigating the Association Between ABO Blood Groups and Rhesus Factors with Dengue and Chikungunya Virus Infections During the 2017 Outbreak in Bangladesh.

This retrospective study was conducted in 2017 during the dual dengue and chikungunya outbreak in Bangladesh. Febrile participants underwent blood tests for chikungunya, dengue, and ABO groups and rhesus (Rh) factors. Blood grouping information was gathered from healthy donors. Males and those aged between 18 and 49 years had a higher risk of contracting dengue and chikungunya. Blood group O exhibited the highest infection rates at ∼50%, whereas group AB had the lowest at ∼9% among the participants in the study. Yet, when considering the general population's blood group distribution, the combined odds of infection were 2.0, 3.5, and 1.4 times higher in groups B, O, and AB, respectively, than in group A. Infection rates were greater in Rh-negative people. Blood groups B, O, and AB showed higher susceptibility than blood group A according to adjusted odds ratios. Blood groups ABO and Rh factor hold significance in disease susceptibility and vaccine effectiveness. Keeping these implications in mind, further investigations are necessary to understand the mechanisms underlying these connections and their effects on the efficacy of dengue and chikungunya vaccines.

Role of Electrical Conductivity in the Shielding Effectiveness of Composite Polyvinyl Alcohol/Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Nanofibers for Electromagnetic Interference Applications.

The shielding effectiveness (SE) against the electromagnetic interference (EMI) of polyvinyl alcohol/multiwall carbon nanotubes (PVA/MWCNTs) composite nanofibers is characteristic of higher absorptivity of the radiation that enhances with the increasing concentration of MWCNTs content in these composites. However, by enriching the content of conductive fillers (MWCNTs), the conductivity of the composites is also stirred up. Concomitantly, the conductivity of these composites contributes toward the reflectivity of the EM radiation from them. Certain applications of the EMI shielding material require a lower level of reflectivity of the EM radiation. This study intends to see how SE of the PVA/MWCNTs composite nanofibers is affected vis-a-vis their conductivity for S-band radiation. Samples of nanofibers, with (5, 10, 15, and 20) wt % of MWCNTs loading in 10 wt % of PVA solution, were prepared through electrospinning and studied for their electrical conductivity and EMI SE. It is observed that by increasing the content of MWCNTs in PVA solution from 5 to 20 wt % the conductivity of the composites tends to increase from 21 to 866 times that of PVA, while the SE increases from 10 db to 25 db over the S-band range of frequencies.

2-Dimensional Ti3C2Tx/NaF nano-composites as electrode materials for hybrid battery-supercapacitor applications.

The increasing global demand for energy storage solutions has spurred interest in advanced materials for electrochemical energy storage devices. Transition-metal carbides and nitrides, known as MXenes, are characterized by remarkable conductivity and tunable properties, They have gained significant attention for their potential in energy storage applications. The properties of two-dimensional (2-D) MXenes can be tuned by doping or composite formation. We report a novel Ti3C2Tx/NaF composite prepared via a straightforward hydrothermal process for supercapacitor electrode applications. Three composites with varying NaF concentrations (1%, 3%, and 5%) were synthesized under similar conditions. Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the successful formation of the composites, whereas distinct shifts in XRD peaks and new peaks revealed the presence of NaF. Electrochemical performance was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charging-discharging, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The composites exhibited pseudo-capacitive behavior with reversible redox reactions during charge and discharge cycles. Specific capacitance of 191 F/g at scan rates of 2 mV/s was measured in 1 M KOH. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed an escalating impedance factor as NaF content increases within Ti3C2Tx. This study underscores the versatile energy storage potential of Ti3C2Tx/NaF composites, offering insights into their tailored properties and behavior.

Intercalation of C60 into MXene Multilayers: A Promising Approach for Enhancing the Electrochemical Properties of Electrode Materials for High-Performance Energy Storage Applications.

In this study, we report on the enhancement of the electrochemical properties of MXene by intercalating C60 nanoparticles between its layers. The aim was to increase the interlayer spacing of MXene, which has a direct effect on capacitance by allowing the electrolyte flow in the electrode. To achieve this, various concentrations of Ti3SiC2 (known as MXene) and C60 nanocomposites were prepared through a hydrothermal process under optimal conditions. The resulting composites were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Electrodes were fabricated using different concentrations of MXene and C60 nanocomposites, and current-voltage (I-V) measurements were performed at various scan rates to analyze the capacitance of pseudo supercapacitors. The results showed the highest capacitance of 348 F g1- for the nanocomposite with a composition of 90% MXene and 10% C60. We introduce MXene-C60 composites as promising electrode materials for supercapacitors and highlight their unique properties. Our work provides a new approach to designing high-performance electrode materials for supercapacitors, which can have significant implications for the development of efficient energy storage systems.

N-phenyl and N-benzyl substituted succinimides: Preclinical evaluation for their antihypertensive effect and underlying mechanism.

The study was designed to investigate the antihypertensive potential of 2-(2, 5-dioxo-1-phenylpyrrolidin-3-yl)-3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-2-methylpropanal (Comp-1) and 2-(1-benzyl-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-3-yl)-3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-2-methylpropanal (Succ-5) in rats. The study results showed that, just like nifedipine (the standard reference drug), the test compounds, Comp-1 (at doses of 15 and 20 mg/kg) and Succ-5 (at a dose of 20 mg/kg) had significant antihypertensive effect against deoxycorticosterone acetate-salted rats. The test compounds maintained the level of cardiac markers troponin I and creatinine kinase myocardial bands (CK-MB) in serum, and modulate the oxidative stress markers Glutathione s-transferase (GST) activity, reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase levels, and lipid peroxidation (LPO). These compounds also reduced the expression of inflammatory markers, including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in heart tissues. Furthermore, in the ex-vivo study, the test substances relaxed the contractions induced by phenylephrine (PE) and potassium (K+). Vasodilation was endothelium-independent because the test substances showed nearly the same effect in aortic rings with intact endothelium, denuded endothelium, and with L-NAME pretreatment. The test compounds shifted the calcium curve to the right, i.e., contraction was inhibited and decreased the maximal response. This study demonstrated the antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vasodilate effects of the test compounds. In addition, the results supported the phenomenon of calcium channel blockades responsible for vasodilation.

Non-prescription antibiotics dispensing by community pharmacies: implications for antimicrobial resistance.

Introduction: The non-prescription antibiotics dispensing (NPAD) from pharmacies is on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, which contributes to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study was conducted with the objective to determine the community pharmacy personnel's perspectives on NPAD and its implications for AMR. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in Pakistan among 336 pharmacies. The data were analyzed using SPSS v21 and MedCalc for Windows v12.3.0. Modified Bloom's cut-off point was utilized to categorize the participants' overall knowledge, attitude, and practice. For univariable logistic regression analyses, odds ratio (OR) was calculated at 95% confidence interval (CI). For multivariable logistic regression analyses, adjusted OR was calculated at 95% CI. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test was used to assess the relationships among knowledge, attitude, and/or practice scores. Results: The majority of the respondents were staff pharmacists (45.5%). About four-fifths (78.9%) and half (50.9%) of the participants demonstrated moderate to good knowledge and practice, respectively. However, about only one-third (33.1%) had a moderate to good attitude. Staff pharmacists had higher odds of moderate to good knowledge (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2-4.7) and practice (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.4-3.8). Total knowledge and practice (Spearman's ρ: 0.280; P <0.001) and total attitude and practice (Spearman's ρ: 0.299; P <0.001) scores were significantly correlated. Conclusion: The qualified pharmacists had satisfactory knowledge, attitude, and practices toward antibiotics. However, non-pharmacist staff lacked knowledge and had probable NPAD practice, which has a negative impact on public health. Regular refresher training, seminars, and strict enforcement of rules and regulations are essential.

Nitazoxanide and quercetin co-loaded nanotransfersomal gel for topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with macrophage targeting and enhanced anti-leishmanial effect.

Purpose: Anti-leishmanial medications administered by oral and parenteral routes are less effective for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and cause toxicity, hence targeted drug delivery is an efficient way to improve drug availability for CL with reduced toxicity. This study aimed to develop, characterize and evaluate nitazoxanide and quercetin co-loaded nanotransfersomal gel (NTZ-QUR-NTG) for the treatment of CL. Methods: NTZ-QUR-NT were prepared by thin film hydration method and were statistically optimized using Box-Behnken design. To ease the topical delivery and enhance the retention time, the NTZ-QUR-NT were dispersed in 2 % chitosan gel. Moreover, in-vitro drug release, ex-vivo permeation, macrophage uptake, cytotoxicity and anti-leishmanial assays were performed. Results: The optimized formulation indicated mean particle size 210 nm, poly dispersity index (PDI) 0.16, zeta potential (ZP) -15.1 mV and entrapment efficiency (EE) of NTZ and QUR was 88 % and 85 %, respectively. NTZ-QUR-NT and NTZ-QUR-NTG showed sustained release of the incorporated drugs as compared to the drug dispersions. Skin permeation of NTZ and QUR in NTZ-QUR-NTG was 4 times higher in comparison to the plain gels. The NTZ-QUR-NT cell internalization was almost 10-folds higher than NTZ-QUR dispersion. The cytotoxicity potential (CC50) of NTZ-QUR-NT (71.95 ± 3.32 µg/mL) was reduced as compared to NTZ-QUR dispersion (49.77 ± 2.15 µg/mL. A synergistic interaction was found between NTZ and QUR. Moreover, in-vitro anti-leishmanial assay presented a lower IC50 value of NTZ-QUR-NT as compared to NTZ-QUR dispersion. Additionally, a significantly reduced lesion size was observed in NTZ-QUR-NTG treated BALB/c mice, indicating its antileishmanial potential. Conclusion: It can be concluded that nanotransfersomal gel has the capability to retain and permeate the incorporated drugs through stratum corneum and induce synergetic anti-leishmanial effect of NTZ and QUR against cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Enhancing supercapacitor performance through design optimization of laser-induced graphene and MWCNT coatings for flexible and portable energy storage.

The field of supercapacitors consistently focuses on research and challenges to improve energy efficiency, capacitance, flexibility, and stability. Low-cost laser-induced graphene (LIG) offers a promising alternative to commercially available graphene for next-generation wearable and portable devices, thanks to its remarkable specific surface area, excellent mechanical flexibility, and exceptional electrical properties. We report on the development of LIG-based flexible supercapacitors with optimized geometries, which demonstrate high capacitance and energy density while maintaining flexibility and stability. Three-dimensional porous graphene films were synthesized, and devices with optimized parameters were fabricated and tested. One type of device utilized LIG, while two other types were fabricated on LIG by coating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) at varying concentrations. Characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and voltammetry, were employed to analyze the fabricated devices. AFM analysis revealed a surface roughness of 2.03 µm for LIG due to laser treatment. SEM images displayed compact, dense, and porous surface morphology. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of graphene and graphene oxide, which was further supported by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) data. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the fabricated samples exhibited distinct D and G bands at 1362 cm-1 and 1579 cm-1, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) results showed that LIG's capacitance, power density, and energy density were 6.09 mF cm-2, 0.199 mW cm-2, and 3.38 µWh cm-2, respectively, at a current density of 0.2 mA cm-2. The LIG-MWCNT coated electrode exhibited a higher energy density of 6.05 µWh cm-2 and an areal-specific capacitance of 51.975 mF cm-2 compared to the LIG-based devices. The fabricated device has potential applications in smart electronics, nanorobotics, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and wearable and portable electronics.

Defects mediated weak ferromagnetism in Zn1-yCyO (0.00 ≤ y ≤ 0.10) nanorods semiconductors for spintronics applications.

A series of carbon-doped ZnO [Zn1-yCyO (0.00 ≤ y ≤ 0.10)] nanorods were synthesized using a cost-effective low-temperature (85 °C) dip coating technique. X-ray diffractometer scans of the samples revealed the hexagonal structure of the C-doped ZnO samples, except for y = 0.10. XRD analysis confirmed a decrease in the unit cell volume after doping C into the ZnO matrix, likely due to the incorporation of carbon at oxygen sites (CO defects) resulting from ionic size differences. The morphological analysis confirmed the presence of hexagonal-shaped nanorods. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy identified C-Zn-C bonding, i.e., CO defects, Zn-O-C bond formation, O-C-O bonding, oxygen vacancies, and sp2-bonded carbon in the C-doped ZnO structure with different compositions. We analyzed the deconvoluted PL visible broadband emission through fitted Gaussian peaks to estimate various defects for electron transition within the bandgap. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the vibrational modes of each constituent. We observed a stronger room-temperature ferromagnetic nature in the y = 0.02 composition with a magnetization of 0.0018 emu/cc, corresponding to the highest CO defects concentration and the lowest measured bandgap (3.00 eV) compared to other samples. Partial density of states analysis demonstrated that magnetism from carbon is dominant due to its p-orbitals. We anticipate that if carbon substitutes oxygen sites in the ZnO structure, the C-2p orbitals become localized and create two holes at each site, leading to enhanced p-p type interactions and strong spin interactions between carbon atoms and carriers. This phenomenon can stabilize the long-range order of room-temperature ferromagnetism properties for spintronic applications.

Investigation of the treatment potential of Raloxifene-loaded polymeric nanoparticles in osteoporosis: In-vitro and in-vivo analyses.

Osteoporosis (OP), is a systemic bone disorder associated with low bone mass and bone tissue corrosion. Worsening of the disease condition leads to bone delicacy and fracture. Various drugs are available for the treatment of OP, however they have limitations including poor solubility, bioavailability and toxicity. Herein, Raloxifene-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (RLX-PNPs) were developed and investigated for the treatment of OP with possible solutions to the above mentioned problems. RLX-PNPs were prepared by modified ionic gelation method followed by determining their particle properties. FTIR, DSC and PXRD analysis of the RLX-PNPs were performed to check chemical interaction, thermal behavior and crystallinity, respectively. In-vitro release profile of RLX-PNPs was checked in lab setting, whereas its pharmacokinetics was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats, in-vivo. Finally, the treatment potential of RLX-PNPs was analyzed in OP induced animal model. The optimized PNPs formulation indicated 134.5 nm particle size, +24.4 mV charge and 91.73% % EE. TEM analysis showed spherical and uniform sized particles with no interactions observed in FTIR analysis. In-vitro release of RLX from RLX-PNPs showed more sustained release behavior as compared to RLX-suspension. Moreover, pharmacokinetic investigations showed a significantly enhanced bioavailability of the RLX-PNPs as well as reduced serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and calcium in OP induced rats when compared with RLX-Suspension after oral administration. Findings of this study suggested that the developed RLX-PNPs have the potential to treat OP due to sustained release and improved bioavailability of the incorporated drug.

Optimized time dependent exfoliation of graphite for fabrication of Graphene/GO/GrO nanocomposite based pseudo-supercapacitor.

High capacitance devices (Supercapacitors) fabricated using two-dimensional materials such as Graphene and its composites are attracting great attention of the research community, recently. Synthesis of 2D materials and their composites with high quality is desirable for the fabrication of 2D materials-based supercapacitors. Ultrasonic Assisted Liquid Phase Exfoliation (UALPE) is one of the widely used techniques for the synthesis of graphene. In this article, we report the effect of variation in sonication time on the exfoliation of graphite powder to extract a sample with optimal properties well suited for supercapacitors applications. Three different graphite powders (hereafter termed as sample A, sample B, and sample C) were sonicated for duration of 24 h, 48 h and 72 h at 60 °C. The exfoliation of graphite powder into graphene, GO and GrO was studied using XRD and RAMAN. AFM and SEM were further used to examine the layered structure of the synthesized nanocomposite. UV-visible spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetery were used to measure the band gaps, and capacitive behavior of the samples. Sample B exhibited a remarkable specific capacitance of 534.53 F/g with charge specific capacity of 530.1 C/g at 1 A/g and energy density of 66 kW/kg. Power density varied 0.75 kWh/kg to 7.5 kWh/kg for a variation in current density from 1 to 10 A/g. Sample B showed capacitive retention of 94%, the lowest impedance and highest degree of exfoliation and conductivity as compared to the other two samples.

Metformin HCl-loaded transethosomal gel; development, characterization, and antidiabetic potential evaluation in the diabetes-induced rat model.

Herein we designed, optimized, and characterized the Metformin Hydrochloride Transethosomes (MTF-TES) and incorporate them into Chitosan gel to develop Metformin Hydrochloride loaded Transethosomal gel (MTF-TES gel) that provides a sustained release, improved transdermal flux and improved antidiabetic response of MTF. Design Expert® software (Ver. 12, Stat-Ease, USA) was applied for the statistical optimization of MTF-TES. The formulation with Mean Particle Size Distribution (MPSD) of 165.4 ± 2.3 nm, Zeta Potential (ZP) of -21.2 ± 1.9 mV, Polydispersity Index (PDI) of 0.169 ± 0.033, and MTF percent Entrapment Efficiency (%EE) of 89.76 ± 4.12 was considered to be optimized. To check the chemical incompatibility among the MTF and other formulation components, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was performed and demonstrated with no chemical interaction. Surface morphology, uniformity, and segregation were evaluated through Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). It was revealed that the nanoparticles were spherical and round in form with intact borders. The fabricated MTF-TES has shown sustained release followed by a more pronounced effect in MTF-TES gel as compared to the plain MTF solution (MTFS) at a pH of 7.4. The MTF-TES has shown enhanced permeation followed by MTF-TES gel as compared to the MTFS at a pH of 7.4. In vivo antidiabetic assay was performed and results have shown improved antidiabetic potential of the MTF-TES gel, in contrast to MTF-gel. Conclusively, MTF-TES is a promising anti-diabetic candidate for transdermal drug delivery that can provide sustained MTF release and enhanced antidiabetic effect.

Deep-Learning-Based Reduced-Order Model for Power Generation Capacity of Flapping Foils.

Inspired by nature, oscillating foils offer viable options as alternate energy resources to harness energy from wind and water. Here, we propose a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD)-based reduced-order model (ROM) of power generation by flapping airfoils in conjunction with deep neural networks. Numerical simulations are performed for incompressible flow past a flapping NACA-0012 airfoil at a Reynolds number of 1100 using the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian approach. The snapshots of the pressure field around the flapping foil are then utilized to construct the pressure POD modes of each case, which serve as the reduced basis to span the solution space. The novelty of the current research relates to the identification, development, and employment of long-short-term neural network (LSTM) models to predict temporal coefficients of the pressure modes. These coefficients, in turn, are used to reconstruct hydrodynamic forces and moment, leading to computations of power. The proposed model takes the known temporal coefficients as inputs and predicts the future temporal coefficients followed by previously estimated temporal coefficients, very similar to traditional ROM. Through the new trained model, we can predict the temporal coefficients for a long time duration that can be far beyond the training time intervals more accurately. It may not be attained by traditional ROMs that lead to erroneous results. Consequently, the flow physics including the forces and moment exerted by fluids can be reconstructed accurately using POD modes as the basis set.

Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway Genes of Circulating Blood Neutrophils Triggered during HIV Infection and Remained Stimulated in ART Patients.

BACKGROUND: The intrinsic apoptotic pathway of neutrophils in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection results in spontaneous neutrophil death. There is a scarcity of data regarding the gene expression of an intrinsic apoptotic pathway of neutrophils in HIV patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to observe the differential expression of some important genes involved in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway of HIV patients, including those who were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: Blood samples were collected from asymptomatic, symptomatic, ART receiver HIV patients, and healthy individuals. Total RNA was extracted from neutrophils and subjected to quantitative real-time PCR assay. CD4+T cells and an automated complete blood count were performed. RESULTS: Among the asymptomatic, symptomatic, and ART receiver HIV patients (n=20 in each group), median CD4+T counts were 633, 98, and 565 cells/ml, and the length of HIV infection in months (± SD) was 24.06 ± 21.36, 62.05 ± 25.51, and 69.2 ± 39.67, respectively. Compared with healthy controls, intrinsic apoptotic pathway genes, i.e., BAX, BIM, Caspase-3, Caspase-9, MCL-1, and Calpain-1, were upregulated to 1.21 ± 0.33, 1.8 ± 0.25, 1.24 ± 0.46, 1.54 ± 0.21, 1.88 ± 0.30, and 5.85 ± 1.34 fold in the asymptomatic group, and even more significantly, i.e., 1.51 ± 0.43, 2.09 ± 1.13, 1.85 ± 1.22, 1.72 ± 0.85, 2.26 ± 1.34, and 7.88 ± 3.31 fold in symptomatic patients, respectively. Despite CD4+ T-cell levels increased in the ART receiver group, these genes did not approach the level of healthy or asymptomatic and remained significantly upregulated. CONCLUSION: The genes involved in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in circulating neutrophils during HIV infection were stimulated in vivo, and ART reduced the expression of those upregulated genes but did not return to the level of asymptomatic or healthy individuals.

Effect of soil amendments on the sorption behavior of atrazine in sandy loam soil.

The sorption behavior of pesticides applied during cultivation of crops is affected by amendments such as farm yard manure (FYM) and vermicompost (VC) during land preparation. Among pesticides, atrazine, a widely used herbicide in many crops, was analyzed for its kinetics and sorption behavior through the addition of FYM and VC in sandy loam soil. The pseudo-second-order (PSO) model best fit the kinetics results in the recommended dose of FYM and VC mixed soil. More atrazine was sorbed onto VC mixed soil than FYM mixed soil. In comparison to control (no amendment), both FYM and VC (1, 1.5, and 2%) increased atrazine adsorption, but the effect varied with dosage and type of amendment. The Freundlich adsorption isotherm adequately explained atrazine adsorption in soil/soil + (FYM/VC) mixtures, and the adsorption was highly nonlinear. The values of Gibb's free energy change (ΔG) were negative for both adsorption and desorption in soil/soil + (FYM/VC) mixtures, suggesting sorption was exothermic and spontaneous in nature. The results revealed that the application of amendments used by farmers interferes the availability, mobility, and infiltration of atrazine in the soil. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that amendments such as FYM and VC can be effectively used to minimize the residual toxicity of atrazine-treated ago-ecosystems in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

Optimization of bandgap reduction in 2-dimensional GO nanosheets and nanocomposites of GO/iron-oxide for electronic device applications.

In this report we have developed different fabrication parameters to tailor the optical bandgap of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets to make it operational candidate in electronic industry. Here we performed two ways to reduce the bandgap of GO nanosheets. First, we have optimized the oxidation level of GO by reducing amount of oxidizing agent (i.e. KMnO4) to control the sp2/sp3 hybridization ratio for a series of GO nanosheets samples. We noticed the reduction in primary band edge 3.93-3.2 eV while secondary band edge 2.98-2.2 eV of GO nanosheets as the amount of KMnO4 is decreased from 100 to 30%. Second, we have fabricated a series of 2-dimensional nanocomposites sample containing GO/Iron-oxide by using a novel synthesis process wet impregnation method. XRD analysis of synthesized nanocomposites confirmed the presence of both phases,[Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 of iron-oxide with prominent plane (001) of GO. Morphological investigation rules out all the possibilities of agglomerations of iron oxide nanoparticles and coagulation of GO nanosheets. Elemental mapping endorsed the homogeneous distribution of iron oxide nanoparticles throughout the GO nanosheets. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the fairly constant ID/IG ratio and FWHM of D and G peaks, thus proving the fact that the synthesis process of nanocomposites has no effect on the degree of oxidation of GO flakes. Red shift in G peak position of all the nanocomposites samples showed the electronic interaction among the constituents of the nanocomposite. Linear decrease in the intensity of PL (Photoluminescence) spectra with the increasing of Iron oxide nanoparticles points towards the increased interaction among the iron oxide nanoparticles and GO flakes. Optical absorption spectroscopy reveals the linear decrease in primary edge of bandgap from 2.8 to 0.99 eV while secondary edge decrease 3.93-2.2 eV as the loading of [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 nanoparticles is increased from 0 to 5% in GO nanosheets. Among these nanocomposites samples 5%-iron-oxide/95%-GO nanosheet sample may be a good contestant for electronic devices.