Optimizing methanol synthesis from CO2 using graphene-based heterogeneous photocatalyst under RSM and ANN-driven parametric optimization for achieving better suitability.

Assessment of the performance of linear and nonlinear regression-based methods for estimating in situ catalytic CO2 transformations employing TiO2/Cu coupled with hydrogen exfoliation graphene (HEG) has been investigated. The yield of methanol was thoroughly optimized and predicted using response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) model after rigorous experimentation and comparison. Amongst the different types of HEG loading from 10 to 40 wt%, the 30 wt% in the HEG-TiO2/Cu assisted photosynthetic catalyst was found to be successful in providing the highest conversion efficiency of methanol from CO2. The most influencing parameters, HEG dosing and inflow rate of CO2, were found to affect the conversion rate in the acidic reaction regime (at pH of 3). According to RSM and ANN, the optimum methanol yields were 36.3 mg g-1 of catalyst and 37.3 mg g-1 of catalyst, respectively. Through the comparison of performances using the least squared error analysis, the nonlinear regression-based ANN showed a better determination coefficient (overall R2 > 0.985) than the linear regression-based RSM model (overall R2 ∼ 0.97). Even though both models performed well, ANN, consisting of 9 neurons in the input and 1 hidden layer, could predict optimum results closer to RSM in terms of agreement with the experimental outcome.

BCLA CLEAR Presbyopia: Evaluation and diagnosis.

It is important to be able to measure the range of clear focus in clinical practice to advise on presbyopia correction techniques and to optimise the correction power. Both subjective and objective techniques are necessary: subjective techniques (such as patient reported outcome questionnaires and defocus curves) assess the impact of presbyopia on a patient and how the combination of residual objective accommodation and their natural DoF work for them; objective techniques (such as autorefraction, corneal topography and lens imaging) allow the clinician to understand how well a technique is working optically and whether it is the right choice or how adjustments can be made to optimise performance. Techniques to assess visual performance and adverse effects must be carefully conducted to gain a reliable end-point, considering the target size, contrast and illumination. Objective techniques are generally more reliable, can help to explain unexpected subjective results and imaging can be a powerful communication tool with patients. A clear diagnosis, excluding factors such as binocular vision issues or digital eye strain that can also cause similar symptoms, is critical for the patient to understand and adapt to presbyopia. Some corrective options are more permanent, such as implanted inlays / intraocular lenses or laser refractive surgery, so the optics can be trialled with contact lenses in advance (including differences between the eyes) to better communicate with the patient how the optics will work for them so they can make an informed choice.

Two-Phase Crude Oil-Water Flow Through Different Pipes: An Experimental Investigation Coupled with Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach.

The present study deals with two-phase non-Newtonian pseudoplastic crude oil and water flow inside horizontal pipes simulated by ANSYS. The study helps predict velocity and velocity profiles, as well as pressure drop during two-phase crude-oil-water flow, without complex calculations. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis will be very important in reducing the experimental cost and the effort of data acquisition. Three independent horizontal stainless steel pipes (SS-304) with inner diameters of 1 in., 1.5 in., and 2 in. were used to circulate crude oil with 5, 10, and 15% v/v water for simulation purposes. The entire length of the pipes, along with their surfaces, were insulated to reduce heat loss. A grid size of 221,365 was selected as the optimal grid. Two-phase flow phenomena, pressure drop calculations, shear stress on the walls, along with the rate of shear strain, and phase analysis were studied. Moreover, velocity changes from the wall to the center, causing a velocity gradient and shear strain rate, but at the center, no velocity variation (velocity gradient) was observed between the layers of the fluid. The precision of the simulation was investigated using three error parameters, such as mean square error, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, and RMSE-standard deviation of observation ratio. From the simulation, it was found that CFD analysis holds good agreement with experimental results. The uncertainty analysis demonstrated that our CFD model is helpful in predicting the rheological parameters very accurately. The study aids in identifying and predicting fluid flow phenomena inside horizontal straight pipes in a very effective way.

Erratum: Antibacterial Efficacy of ZnO/Bentonite (Clay) Nanocomposites against Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c07950.].

Antibacterial Efficacy of ZnO/Bentonite (Clay) Nanocomposites against Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria has spurred the exploration of therapeutic nanomaterials such as ZnO nanoparticles. However, the inherent nonspecific toxicity of ZnO has posed a significant obstacle to their clinical utilization. In this research, we propose a novel approach to improve the selectivity of the toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles by impregnating them onto a less toxic clay mineral, Bentonite, resulting in ZB nanocomposites (ZB NCs). We hypothesize that these ZB NCs not only reduce toxicity toward both normal and carcinogenic cell lines but also retain the antibacterial properties of pure ZnO nanoparticles. To test this hypothesis, we synthesized ZB NCs by using a precipitation technique and confirmed their structural characteristics through X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Electron microscopy revealed composite particles in the size range of 20-50 nm. The BET surface area of ZB NCs, within a relative pressure (P/P0) range of 0.407-0.985, was estimated to be 31.182 m2/g. Notably, 50 mg/mL ZB NCs demonstrated biocompatibility with HCT 116 and HEK 293 cell lines, supported by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy analysis. In vitro experiments further confirmed a remarkable five-log reduction in the population of MDR Escherichia coli in the presence of 50 mg/mL of ZB NCs. Antibacterial activity of the nanocomposites was also validated in the HEK293 and HCT 116 cell lines. These findings substantiate our hypothesis and underscore the effectiveness of ZB NCs against MDR E. coli while minimizing nonspecific toxicity toward healthy cells.

CuO/TiO2/ZnO NPs Anchored Hydrogen Exfoliated Graphene: To Comprehend the Role of Graphene in Catalytic Reduction of p-Nitrophenol.

The present study deals with sonochemically in situ synthesis of a novel functional catalyst using hydrogen exfoliated graphene (HEG) supported titanium dioxide (TiO2) and copper sulfate (CuSO4) doped with zinc oxide (ZnO) (abbreviated as Ti/Cu/Zn-HEG). The synthesis of the Ti/Cu/Zn-HEG nanocomposite (NCs) catalyst was confirmed through its characterizations by XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM, XPS, FTIR, and BET methods. It was assessed for catalytic conversion of a model aromatic compound para-nitrophenol (p-NP) in an aqueous solution. The p-NP is a nitroaromatic compound that has a toxic and mutagenic effect. Its removal from the water system is necessary to protect the environment and living being. The newly synthesized Ti/Cu/Zn-HEG NCs were applied for their higher stability and catalytic activity as a potential candidate for reducing p-NP in practice. The operating parameters, such as p-NP concentration, catalyst dosage, and operating time were optimized for 150 ppm, 400 ppm, and 10 min through response surface methodology (RSM) in Design-Expert software to obtain the maximum reduction p-NP up to 98.4% at its normal pH of 7.1 against the controls (using HEG, Ti/Cu-HEG, and Zn-HEG). Analysis of variance of the response suggested the regression equation to be significant for the process with a major impact on catalyst concentration and operating time. The model prediction data (from RSM) and experimental data were corroborated well as reflected through model's low relative error (RE < 0.10), high regression coefficient (R2 > 0.97), and Willmott d-index (dwill-index > 0.95) values.

Stabilization of Cx43 mRNA via RNA-binding protein HuR regulated by polyamines enhances intestinal epithelial barrier function.

Gut barrier dysfunction occurs commonly in patients with critical disorders, leading to the translocation of luminal toxic substances and bacteria to the bloodstream. Connexin 43 (Cx43) acts as a gap junction protein and is crucial for intercellular communication and the diffusion of nutrients. The levels of cellular Cx43 are tightly regulated by multiple factors, including polyamines, but the exact mechanism underlying the control of Cx43 expression remains largely unknown. The RNA-binding protein HuR regulates the stability and translation of target mRNAs and is involved in many aspects of intestinal epithelial pathobiology. Here we show that HuR directly bound to Cx43 mRNA via its 3'-untranslated region in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and this interaction enhanced Cx43 expression by stabilizing Cx43 mRNA. Depletion of cellular polyamines inhibited the [HuR/Cx43 mRNA] complex and decreased the level of Cx43 protein by destabilizing its mRNA, but these changes were prevented by ectopic overexpression of HuR. Polyamine depletion caused intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction, which was reversed by ectopic Cx43 overexpression. Moreover, overexpression of checkpoint kinase 2 in polyamine-deficient cells increased the [HuR/Cx43 mRNA] complex, elevated Cx43 levels, and promoted barrier function. These findings indicate that Cx43 mRNA is a novel target of HuR in IECs and that polyamines regulate Cx43 mRNA stability via HuR, thus playing a critical role in the maintenance of intestinal epithelial barrier function.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The current study shows that polyamines stabilize the Cx43 mRNA via HuR, thus enhancing the function of the Cx43-mediated gap junction. These findings suggest that induced Cx43 by HuR plays a critical role in the process by which polyamines regulate intestinal epithelial barrier.

Cough syrup bottle at rectum in elderly male: a rare case report.

Foreign body in the anal canal may be inserted for sexual gratification or sexual assault or accidental or drug trafficking. We report a case of a male who accidentally inserted a cough syrup bottle in his rectum. Presentation is usually late due to fear and embarrassment. The manual attempt of removal may be tried under adequate anesthesia. Post-procedure sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy may be helpful to diagnose laceration or mucosal injury.

Prevalence of migraine in systemic lupus erythematosus: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder with a wide range of clinical manifestations, including neurological issues in about 25%-75% of cases. Among the neurological involvement cases, most cases show migraine. However, the prevalence of migraine varied worldwide, and in some studies, a higher incidence of migraine in SLE cases was reported compared to healthy controls. In the present study, we adopted a meta-analysis approach to find out the prevalence of migraine in SLE patients worldwide and investigate whether migraine frequency is more prevalent in SLE patients than controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Various literature databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were screened for eligible studies. The last search was performed on January 21, 2023. Publication biases were accessed by Egger's regression analysis and funnel plots. Cochrane Q statistics and I2 values explored the presence or absence of heterogeneity. All statistical analysis of meta-analysis was performed in comprehensive meta-analysis software v3. RESULTS: Based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 17 reports comprising 2901 SLE patients and 575 healthy controls were considered in the present study. The meta-analysis revealed the prevalence of migraine to be 34.8%. Furthermore, migraine was more prevalent in SLE patients than healthy controls (OR: 1.964, p = 0.000, 95% CI = 1.512-2.550). Similar trends were also observed while considering another 10 independent reports those were not disclosed about the migraine diagnosis criteria (number of reports: 27, SLE: 3473, HC: 741, prevalence: 33.5%, SLE vs HC: OR = 2.107, p = 0.000, 95% CI = 1.672-2.655). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that SLE patients from South America had a higher prevalence of migraine (56.2%). CONCLUSIONS: About one-third of SLE patients experience migraine worldwide. The prevalence of migraine is more frequent in SLE patients than the healthy controls.

Fabrication of ZnO/Gypsum/Gelatine nanocomposites films and their antibacterial mechanism against Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has long been acknowledged as being one of the most harmful bacteria for human civilization. It is the main contributor to skin and soft tissue infections. The gram positive pathogen also contributes to bloodstream infections, pneumonia, or bone and joint infections. Hence, developing an efficient and targeted treatment for these illnesses is greatly desired. Recently, studies on nanocomposites (NCs) have significantly increased due to their potent antibacterial and antibiofilm properties. These NCs provide an intriguing way to control the growth of bacteria without causing the development of resistance strains that come from improper or excessive use of the conventional antibiotics. In this context, we have demonstrated the synthesis of a NC system by precipitation of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on Gypsum followed by encapsulation with Gelatine, in the present study. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to validate the presence of ZnO NPs and Gypsum. The film was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The system exhibited promising antibiofilm action and was effective in combating S. aureus and MRSA in concentrations between 10 and 50 ug/ml. The bactericidal mechanism by release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was anticipated to be induced by the NC system. Studies on cell survival and in-vitro infection support the film's notable biocompatibility and its potential for treating Staphylococcus infections in the future.

Synthesis, characterization and application of BR@Ag nanocomposite material for high degree reduction of p-nitro phenol under a suitable condition.

One of the most essential chemical processes that is utilized in the manufacturing of a great deal of contemporary goods is called heterogeneously catalyzed reactions, and it is also one of the most fascinating. Metallic nanostructures are heterogeneous catalysts for range reactions due to their huge surface area, large assembly of active surface sites, and quantum confinement effects. Unprotected metal nanoparticles suffer from irreversible agglomeration, catalyst poisoning, and limited life cycle. To circumvent these technical disadvantages, catalysts are frequently spread on chemically inert materials like as mesoporous Al2O3, ZrO2, and different types of ceramic material. In this research, plentiful bauxite residue is used to create a low-cost alternative catalytic material. We have hydrogenated p-Nitrophenol to p-Aminophenol on bauxite residue (BR) supported silver nanocomposites (Ag NCs). The phase and crystal structure, bond structure and morphological analysis of the developed material will be done XRD, FTIR, and SEM-EDX respectively. The ideal conditions were 150 ppm of catalyst, 0.1 mM of p-NP, and 10 minutes overall up-to 99% conversion of p-NP to p-AP. A multi-variable predictive model created using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and a data-based Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model were found to be the best ways to predict the maximum conversion efficiency. ANN models predicted efficiency more accurately than RSM models, and the strong agreement between model predictions and experimental data was indicated by their low relative error (RE0.10), high regression coefficient (R2>0.97), and Willmott-d index (dwill-index > 0.95) values.

Management of tannery waste effluents towards the reclamation of clean water using an integrated membrane system: A state-of-the-art review.

Tanning and other leather processing methods utilize a large amount of freshwater, dyes, chemicals, and salts and produce toxic waste, raising questions regarding their environmental sensitivity and eco-friendly nature. Total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, chemical oxygen demand, and ions such as chromium, sulfate, and chloride turn tannery wastewater exceedingly toxic for any living species. Therefore, it is imperative to treat tannery effluent, and existing plants must be examined and upgraded to keep up with recent technological developments. Different conventional techniques to treat tannery wastewater have been reported based on their pollutant removal efficiencies, advantages, and disadvantages. Research on photo-assisted catalyst-enhanced deterioration has inferred that both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis can be established as green initiatives, the latter being more efficient at degrading organic pollutants. However, the scientific community experiences significant problems developing a feasible treatment technique owing to the long degradation times and low removal efficiency. Hence, there is a chance for an improved solution to the problem of treating tannery wastewater through the development of a hybrid technology that uses flocculation as the primary treatment, a unique integrated photo-catalyst in a precision-designed reactor as the secondary method, and finally, membrane-based tertiary treatment to recover the spent catalyst and reclaimable water. This review gives an understanding of the progressive advancement of a cutting-edge membrane-based system for the management of tanning industrial waste effluents towards the reclamation of clean water. Adaptable routes toward sludge disposal and the reviews on techno-economic assessments have been shown in detail, strengthening the scale-up confidence for implementing such innovative hybrid systems.

Directed Photochemically Mediated Nickel-Catalyzed (Hetero)arylation of Aliphatic C-H Bonds.

Site-selective functionalization of unactivated C(sp3)-H centers is challenging because of the ubiquity and strength of alkyl C-H bonds. Herein, we disclose a position-selective C(sp3)-C(sp2) cross-coupling reaction. This process engages C(sp3)-H bonds and aryl bromides, utilizing catalytic quantities of a photoredox-capable molecule and a nickel precatalyst. Using this technology, selective C-H functionalization arises owing to a 1,6-hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process that is guided by a pendant alcohol-anchored sulfamate ester. These transformations proceed directly from N-H bonds, in contrast to previous directed, radical-mediated, C-H arylation processes, which have relied on prior oxidation of the reactive nitrogen center in reactions with nucleophilic arenes. Moreover, these conditions promote arylation at secondary centers in good yields with excellent selectivity.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) intronic variant (rs2430561) is a risk factor for systemic lupus erythematosus: Observation from a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The role of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in autoimmune disorders has been well documented. Elevated levels of IFN-γ are observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are linked with disease severity. Single nucleotide polymorphism in the intronic region of the IFN-γ gene (+874 T>A rs2430561) has been associated with susceptibility to the development of RA and SLE; however, the reports remained contradictories. We conducted a meta-analysis using earlier published articles to reach a valid conclusion on the role of IFN-γ polymorphism (+874 T>A) in autoimmune diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Various online databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Scopus were searched to find eligible reports for inclusion in the present analysis. Two independent authors extracted eligible studies and data. The meta-analysis was performed by comprehensive meta-analysis software (CMA) v.3.1. Trial sequential analysis was performed to test whether enough case-control studies have already been conducted worldwide to reach a valid observation. RESULTS: Six published reports on the role of IFN-γ +874 T>A in SLE and four in RA were found after searching various databases. However, out of those six studies in SLE, in one study, the distribution of genotypes was not following the hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In RA, three studies were deviated out of four reports. Thus, a total of five studies comprising 1440 SLE patients and 1748 controls were considered for the present meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed a significant association between IFN-γ +874 T>A variants with susceptibility to SLE (homozygous comparison: p = 0.036, OR = 1.592, heterozygous model: p = 0.042, OR = 1.507, dominant model: p = 0.002, OR = 1.309). CONCLUSIONS: IFN-γ +874 T>A variant is associated with predisposition to SLE development.

To decipher the phytochemical agent and mechanism for Urginea indica mediated green synthesis of Ag nanoparticles and investigation of its antibacterial activity against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Globally, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia is one of the commonest bloodstream infections associated with clinical complications and high mortality. Thence, devising effective and targeted biogenic silver based strategies are in great demand. However, limited insights regarding the biosynthesis methodologies impedes the possible scale up and commercial potentials. We, hereby demonstrate the biosynthesis of Ag nanoparticles using the phytochemical agent extracted and purified from bulb extract of Urginea indica. The chemical structure of the phytochemical agent is investigated by various chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques and was found closely relatable to N-ethylacetamide. Ag nanoparticles synthesis by this agent was found to have a strong Surface Plasmon band at 402 nm. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy further validated the formation of Ag nanoparticles with face-centred cubic structure with a size range of 20-30 nm. The biogenic metal nanoparticles have shown potential antibacterial activity against S. aureus and MRSA (within a range of 10-50 µg/mL). The nanoparticles have also shown promising anti-biofim activity against the above mentioned strains. The nanoparticles were expected to induce ROS mediated bactericidal mechamism. Cell viability and in-vitro infection studies advocate noticeable biocompatibility and future clinical potential of the developed nanoparticles against Staphylococcus infections.

Insights into magma ocean dynamics from the transport properties of basaltic melt.

The viscosity of magma plays a crucial role in the dynamics of the Earth: from the crystallization of a magma ocean during its initial stages to modern-day volcanic processes. However, the pressure-dependence behavior of viscosity at high pressure remains controversial. In this study, we report the results of first-principles molecular dynamics simulations of basaltic melt to show that the melt viscosity increases upon compression along each isotherm for the entire lower mantle after showing minima at ~6 GPa. However, elevated temperatures of the magma ocean translate to a narrow range of viscosity, i.e., 0.01-0.03 Pa.s. This low viscosity implies that the crystallization of the magma ocean could be complete within a few million years. These results also suggest that the crystallization of the magma ocean is likely to be fractional, thus supporting the hypothesis that present-day mantle heterogeneities could have been generated during the early crystallization of the primitive mantle.

A critical review on nanomaterial based therapeutics for diabetic wound healing.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine disease that occurs mostly in the state of hyperglycemia (elevated blood glucose level). In the recent times, diabetes is listed under world's utmost critical health issues. Wound treatment procedures are complicated in diabetic individuals all over the world. Diabetic wound care not only involves high-cost, but also the primary cause of hospitalization, which can lead to amputation thereby reducing diabetic patient life expectancy. To lower the risk of amputation, wound healing requires the development of effective treatments. Traditional management systems for Diabetes are frequently chastised due to their high costs, difficulties in maintaining a sustainable supply chain and limited disposal alternatives. The worrisome rise in diabetes prevalence has sparked a surge of interest in the discovery of viable remedies to supplement existing treatments. Nanomaterials wound healing has a lot of potential for treating and preventing wound infections and it has recently gained popularity owing to its ability to transport drugs to the wound area in a regulated fashion, potentially overpowering the limits of traditional approaches. This research assessed several nanosystems, such as nanocarriers and nanotherapeutics, to explore how they can benefit in diabetic wound healing, with a focus on current obstacles and future prospects.