Fourth Cycle Research Articles

Synthesize and Applications of Green Custard Apples leaves biosorbents for adsorptions of Sulphates and Fluorides from water

Industrial and domestic waste water release sulphur and fluoride metals into the water, thereby polluting the environment and affecting the humans and animals health. There are various techniques are available for eliminating sulphates and fluorides found in the water. Among these techniques, biosorption is a simple, cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach for removing the sulphates and fluorides from water. Biosorption is a physiochemical process that physically produces in specific biomass, enabling it to passively concentrate and bind sulphates and fluorides to its cellular structure. The custard apple leaf biosorbents are among the most effective biosorbents for the removal of fluorides and sulphates from water. In the experimental work observed that the using of 5.6g dosage of custard apple leaf biosorbents, successfully removed the sulphates and fluorides from water and a stable condition was reached. The optimal sorption of sulphur and fluoride over custard apple leaves biosorbents was achieved at a basic pH of 4-8, a concentration of 4.3g, contact time of 60minutes, temperature of 25°C, and an agitation speed of 100rpm. The particles present in custard apple leaves biosorbents have a size of 3.26µm and crystallite size 3.02nm. The surface area, pore volume and pore size of 43.68m2/g, 0.428cm3/g, and 38.64Å respectively. The adsorption of sulphates and fluorides on regenerated custard apple leaves biosorbents remained consistent for up to three cycles, but then decreased by 82.36% in the fourth cycle. The regeneration of custard apple leaf biosorbents was also calibrated, and it was observed that the custard apple leaves do not exhibit any high concentrations of changes in their performances, even after being reused for the removals of sulphates and fluorides from water. The adsorption rate move to equilibrium was due to the accessibility of lower amount of existing opening sites on the custard apple leaves biosorbents surface and also due to the binding forces between the custard apple leaves biosorbents and fluorides and sulfates molecules in the aqueous solution.

Sex differences in recovery from postoperative sarcopenia during adjuvant CAPOX therapy for colorectal cancer

BackgroundWomen are predisposed to develop intolerance to cancer chemotherapy. Sarcopenia and chemotherapy are mutually related. Women are generally intolerable to chemotherapeutics such as 5-fluorouracil. Although adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, e.g. CAPOX is commonly used to treat colorectal cancer, its effects on patients in terms of sarcopenia and sex remain unknown. We investigated sex disparities in the impacts of CAPOX on body composition in this study.MethodsWe conducted a prospective study on diagnostic metrics used for sarcopenia in colorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant CAPOX. Evaluations of the nutritional status by the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA), gait speed, grip strength, skeletal muscle mass, fat mass, and bone mineral content using a body composition analyzer were performed in the first, fourth, and eighth cycles of CAPOX (first, second, and third measurements, respectively).ResultsAmong 80 eligible patients, 61 completed four CAPOX cycles. The median differences in MNA, gait, grip strength, muscle mass, fat mass, and bone mineral content between the first and second measurements for men (n = 35) and women (n = 26) were + 10.5% and + 2.9% (p = 0.067), + 4.5% and − 2.6% (p = 0.16), + 1.8% and + 2.8% (p = 0.66), + 2.7% and + 1.3% (p = 0.021), + 4.5% and + 3.5% (p = 0.59), and + 3.3% and + 0.0% (p = 0.006), There were no sex differences in comparisons of the above metrics between the first and third measurements in 34 patients who completed eight CAPOX cycles (19 wen and 15 women).ConclusionsEarly cycles of adjuvant CAPOX may have a negative impact on the postoperative recovery of several metrics for diagnosing sarcopenia in women.

Pea Pod–Derived Biochar–Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Composite for the Photocatalytic Degradation of Two Organic Dyes Crystal Violet and Victoria Blue

ABSTRACTThe rapid increase of water pollution globally is a vital environmental concern that requires the immediate attention of researchers to find new innovative ways to remove unwanted environmental pollutants from our water sources. With the advances in the field of sustainable engineering, there is a high demand for the effective utilization of biomass resources for the removal of aqueous environmental contaminants. Biochar is carbon carbon‐enriched substance obtained by biomass pyrolysis; it is inexpensive and has received wide attention in the field of wastewater treatment. Herein, we describe the synthesis of pea pod (PO) biochar‐reinforced zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF‐8) nanocomposite (PO@ZIF‐8) through the in situ precipitation of ZIF‐8 onto the biochar surface. The crystal growth, morphology, chemical composition, and optical characteristics of fabricated PO@ZIF‐8 nanocomposite were scrutinized through PXRD, SEM, TEM, UV‐DRS, PL, and XPS analysis. The dodecahedral‐shaped PO@ZIF‐8 particles have an average size between 140 and 160 nm. The biochar‐reinforced ZIF‐8 nanocomposite showed significantly higher photocatalytic activity than the pure ZIF‐8 for the degradation of two commonly found organic dyes crystal violet (CV) and Victoria Blue (VB) in the presence of direct sunlight irradiation. The PO@ZIF‐8 nanocomposite showed the highest degradation efficiency of ~87% and ~80% within 50 min of irradiation time at a catalyst dosage of 20 mg for 30 ppm CV and VB dye solutions at pH 8. First‐order kinetics were obeyed during the photodegradation with 0.041 and 0.030 min−1 as the constant of degradation for the removal of CV and VB. The radical scavenger experiment and the photoluminescence analysis confirm the active participation of ·OH radical in the degradation of both dyes. LC–MS and TOC analysis was also performed to determine the degradation products and for evaluation of the degradation progress. Moreover, the synthesized PO@ZIF‐8 composite also exhibit good stability till the fourth cycle with high degradation efficiency thus making it a good choice of catalyst in the field of environmental decontamination.

Synthesis and characterization of allyl mannitol cross-linker based novel hydrogel for capturing of toxic metal ions from aqueous solution

ABSTRACT Three grades of allyl-mannitol cross-linker-based hydrogel (AMCLHs hydrogel) have been synthesized with the help of acrylic acid and acrylamide monomers using a free radical co-polymerization technique. The three prepared grades of AMCLHs hydrogel have been referred to as AMCLHs-1, AMCLHs-2, and AMCLHs-3, respectively. The prepared AMCLHs hydrogels have been characterized by several analytical techniques viz. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, point of zero charge (ΔpHPZC), analysis, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, respectively. The synthesized hydrogels have been utilized for the elimination of Cu2+ and Co2+ ions from wastewater. The properties of prepared AMCLHs hydrogels, i.e. swelling and water retention ratio have been studied in distilled water under optimized conditions. The maximum swelling ratio of the best grade of hydrogel (AMCLHs-1) has been found to be 400.5 g/g with the water retention ratio of 75.09% during 24 h. These findings indicate the AMCLHs-1 hydrogel has remarkable swelling and water retention capacity. The maximum metal ion removal efficiency of AMCLHs-1 hydrogel from aqueous solutions has been found to be 96.6% for Cu2+ and 94.2% for Co2+ ions under optimum conditions. The experimental data fitted well with the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models, revealing maximum adsorption capacities of 431.03 mg/g for Cu2+ ions and 414.93 mg/g for Co2+ ions, respectively. In addition, the rate for the adsorption of Cu2+ and Co2+ ions onto AMCLHs-1 hydrogel follows both Pseudo first and second-order kinetic models. The negative ΔG values indicate that the adsorption process occurs spontaneously, while positive ΔH values suggest that the adsorption process is exothermic in nature. The prepared AMCLHs hydrogel is reusable and exhibits high desorption efficiency with 87.63% for Cu2+ and 85.21% for Co2+ metal ions even after the fourth cycle. Overall, AMCLHs hydrogel is a cost-effective and reusable adsorbent that possesses a significant potential for heavy metal ion removal from aqueous solutions.

Climate change and ecological assessment in Europe under the WFD – Hitting moving targets with shifting baselines?

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) sets the fundamental structure for assessing the status of water bodies in the European Union. Its implementation is currently entering its fourth six-year cycle assisted by a total of 38 guidance documents. The principal objective is to ensure good status for surface and ground waters. The functioning of the WFD is based on detecting the impact of human pressures on biological, physico-chemical, or hydromorphological parameters, and reducing these causal pressures through a program of measures to achieve good status. Climate change can exert a significant influence on ecological status by directly altering parameters monitored, pressure interactions, or influencing the effectiveness of programs of measures. Aquatic systems respond holistically to climate change with different pressures having additive, synergistic, or antagonistic interactions. The challenge is how to adapt the framework to manage aquatic systems in the context of climate change while maintaining focus on implementing measures to tackle key pressures. This paper examines potential approaches, including reassignment of waterbody type, quantifying the portion of Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR) driven by climate change, and creating an assessment module of climatic pressures and ecological responses. The overall purpose is to stimulate discussion and explore ways to incorporate climate change into the WFD structure.

Improvement cycle to act against catheter-related bloodstream infections

Abstract Background Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) pose significant risks, causing a prolongation of hospital stay, increasing costs and increasing the risk of complications and mortality. It is the first healthcare-associated infection in many hospitals including our institution. Preventing CRBSI is essential for safety in patient’s care. To achieve this, we’ve adopted improvement cycles as a tool, aiming to decrease CRBSI rates by 50%. Methods Over the period of 2012 to 2023, 9036 pediatric patients were monitored throughout their hospitalizations. We utilized improvement cycles through various interventions: first an intervention bundle, secondly avoiding multipuncture, thirdly improving sampling techniques, fourthly optimizing supply management, and lastly restructuring the vascular access clinic. Each cycle involved resource management and process enhancement. Progress was measured through percentage metrics and the primary outcome indicator was CRBSI rates. Results The first cycle achieved a 90% compliance, the achievements were compliance above 85% of the bundle. In the second cycle we attained an 85% compliance, implement a guideline for catheter insertion with only two punctures in practice. The third cycle saw a 70% compliance rate, involving a multidisciplinary team for taking samples, training and monitoring by a skilled supervisor. The fourth cycle reached a 60% compliance through a techno-vigilance process, it was a pity quickly practical solutions didn´t work in practice. The final cycle achieved a 70% compliance, establishing a functional vascular access clinic. Rates CRBSI decreased by 50% overall and in the pediatric intensive care unit, meeting our objective. However this reduction was not observed in other intensive care units. Conclusion Improvement cycles simplify changes. Their implementation is effective but requires close monitoring, support from resources and authorities, a committed and proactive team, and continuous changes according to results. There is a need to consolidate the strategies to sustain and enhance our achievements.

Recyclability of Zinc Palmitate-Based Composites in Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Production from Oil Feedstocks at Varied Acidity.

Zinc hydroxide nitrate (Zn5) is one of the layered metal hydroxide materials, which has been extensively reported as an effective bifunctional catalyst for biodiesel production from acidic oils. This report gives a comprehensive summary of the reactivity of Zn5 in the methanolysis of various oil feedstocks, plant oils, free fatty acids, and other acidic oils. Notably, as evidenced by this work, Zn5 is highly effective in converting acidic oils [palmitic acid/palm oil (PO)] to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME or biodiesel) at high yields ranging from 80 to 95%, withstanding acid content up to 10% without soap formation. The high FAME yields result from complex methanolysis and hydrolysis processes, e.g., transesterification of triglycerides in the PO, esterification of palmitic acid, and hydrolysis of the triglycerides. Despite this, Zn5 is nonrecyclable because it is unstable in the reaction media and transforms into zinc hydroxide nitrate/zinc palmitate (Zn5/ZnP) composites. The Zn5/ZnP composites were suitable for use in FAME production from PO at 100 °C for 2 h by using a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 30:1, yielding high FAME yields of 97 and 70.7% in the first and fourth cycles, respectively. This study added better insight into how to effectively produce FAME from oil feedstocks of varying acidity by using zinc layered hydroxide- or zinc carboxylate-based materials.

Case report: is necrotizing fasciitis in a rectal cancer patient after targeted systemic therapy related to the tumor site? - evidence from a hepatocellular carcinoma patient

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare and life-threatening serious infectious disease, characterized by acute onset and rapid progress, leading to extensive necrosis of skin, soft tissue as well as fascia by a variety of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, localized on external genitalia, scrotum, groin and perianal areas in males. There exist numerous common etiologies for NF, yet NF induced by malignant neoplasms is exceedingly rare. Several studies have reported that NF may be associated with tumor site (rectal/sigmoid colon cancer) and blood supply dysfunction caused by targeted therapy drugs (bevacizumab, aflibercept, ramucirumab). The perforation of colorectal cancer poses a unique risk factor for NF. However, in our two cases, the patient with rectal cancer received CapeOX (oxaliplatin + capecitabine) + bevacizumab + tislelizumab for 3 cycles without perforation but did develop NF. One month after debridement, the patient continued immunotherapy with tislelizumab alone for the fourth cycle and maintained for an additional 3 cycles without any recurrence of NF. Therefore, does the occurrence of NF correlate with the tumor site (rectum) and targeted immunotherapy? Another patient with hepatocellular carcinoma also developed NF after receiving 2 cycles of lenvatinib + sintilimab treatment. The third cycle of sintilimab immunotherapy was administered on the 13th day after operation, which was subsequently maintained for an additional 2 cycles without recurrence of NF. The absence of a direct correlation between hepatocellular carcinoma and rectal tumor location as well as immunotherapy, suggests that NF may be closely linked to targeted therapy.

Enhancing trainee performance in obstetric ultrasound through an artificial intelligence system: randomized controlled trial.

Performing obstetric ultrasound scans is challenging for inexperienced operators; therefore, the prenatal screening artificial intelligence system (PSAIS) software was developed to provide real-time feedback and guidance for trainees during their scanning procedures. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential benefits of utilizing such an artificial intelligence system to enhance the efficiency of obstetric ultrasound training in acquiring and interpreting standard basic views. A prospective, single-center randomized controlled study was conducted at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. From September 2022 to April 2023, residents with no prior obstetric ultrasound experience were recruited and assigned randomly to either a PSAIS-assisted training group or a conventional training group. Each trainee underwent a four-cycle practical scan training program, performing 20 scans in each cycle on pregnant volunteers at 18-32 gestational weeks, focusing on acquiring and interpreting standard basic views. At the end of each cycle, a test scan evaluated trainees' ability to obtain standard ultrasound views without PSAIS assistance, and image quality was rated by both the trainees themselves and an expert (in a blinded manner). The primary outcome was the number of training cycles required for each trainee to meet a certain standard of proficiency (i.e. end-of-cycle test scored by the expert at ≥ 80%). Secondary outcomes included the expert ratings of the image quality in each trainee's end-of-cycle test and the discordance between ratings by trainees and the expert. In total, 32 residents and 1809 pregnant women (2720 scans) were recruited for the study. The PSAIS-assisted trainee group required significantly fewer training cycles compared with the non-PSAIS-assisted group to meet quality requirements (P = 0.037). Based on the expert ratings of image quality, the PSAIS-assisted training group exhibited superior ability in acquiring standard imaging views compared with the conventional training group in the third (P = 0.012) and fourth (P < 0.001) cycles. In both groups, the discordance between trainees' ratings of the quality of their own images and the expert's ratings decreased with increasing training time. A statistically significant difference in overall trainee-expert rating discordance between the two groups emerged at the end of the first training cycle and remained at every cycle thereafter (P < 0.013). By assisting inexperienced trainees in obtaining and interpreting standard basic obstetric scanning views, the use of artificial intelligence-assisted systems has the potential to improve training effectiveness. © 2024 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

An Active and Regenerable Nanometric High‐Entropy Catalyst for Efficient Propane Dehydrogenation

AbstractPropane dehydrogenation (PDH) is crucial for propylene production, but commercially employed Pt‐based catalysts face susceptibility to deactivation due to the Pt sintering during reaction and regeneration steps. Here, we report a SiO2 supported nanometric (MnCoCuZnPt) high‐entropy PDH catalyst with high activity and stability. The catalyst exhibited a super high propane conversion of 56.6 % with 94 % selectivity of propylene at 600 °C. The propylene productivity reached 68.5 molC3H6 ⋅ gPt−1 ⋅ h−1, nearly three times that of Pt/SiO2 (23.5 molC3H6 ⋅ gPt−1 ⋅ h−1) under a weight hourly space velocity of 60 h−1. In a high‐entropy nanoparticle, Pt atoms were atomically dispersed through coordination with other metals and exhibited a positive charge, thereby showcasing remarkable catalytic activity. The high‐entropy effect contributes to the catalyst a superior stability with a low deactivation constant of 0.0004 h−1 during 200 hours of reaction under the industrial gas composition at 550 °C. Such high‐entropy PDH catalyst is easy regenerated through simple air combustion of deposited coke. After the fourth consecutive regeneration cycle, satisfactory catalytic stability was observed, and the element distribution of spent catalysts almost returned to their initial state, with no detectable Pt sintering. This work provides new insights into designing active, stable, and regenerable novel PDH catalysts.

Dispersion of ZnO or TiO2 nanoparticles onto P. australis stem-derived biochar for highly efficient photocatalytic removal of doxycycline antibiotic under visible light irradiation

Abstract Biochar (BC) derived from reed stems was prepared by high-temperature pyrolysis, and two types of ZnO/biochar (ZBC) and TiO2/biochar (TBC) composite materials were synthesized via a simple hydrolysis method. These composites, compared to pure ZnO and TiO2, exhibit not only improved but significantly enhanced crystalline structures and larger specific surface areas. This enhancement in the physical and chemical properties of ZBC and TBC composites is a crucial aspect of our research, as it leads to a distinct red-shifted absorption edge and excellent visible-light absorption characteristics. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of ZBC and TBC composite materials, a key finding of our study, was evaluated using doxycycline antibiotic as a simulated pollutant under visible-light irradiation. The results demonstrate a 6.0-fold and 7.3-fold increase in photocatalytic degradation efficiency of ZBC and TBC composites compared to pure ZnO and TiO2, respectively, further underscoring the significance of these enhanced properties. Furthermore, active species trapping experiments reveal that ·OH radicals are the dominant reactive species in the photocatalytic degradation process of doxycycline. A Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model accurately represents this degradation process. Kinetic data indicate that the degradation rate constants (k) of ZBC and TBC catalysts are 4.314 × 10−2 min−1 and 3.416 × 10−2 min−1, respectively. The photocatalysts exhibit no significant decrease in degradation efficiency for ZBC and TBC even after the fourth cycle, indicating their relatively high reusability. These results suggest that ZBC and TBC materials can be used as stable, efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable photocatalytic composite materials for antibiotic-contaminated wastewater treatment.

Exploring Genetic Variants and Platinum Chemotherapy Response in Indonesian Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: Insights from ERCC2 rs13181.

Individual responses to platinum-based treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) are influenced by genetic polymorphisms, including Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). This study aimed to explore the role of ERCC2 in the Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) pathway for platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC. While ERCC2 is widely studied, data for Southeast Asian populations are lacking. Addressing this gap could improve personalized treatment strategies for NSCLC in this demographic. This study recruited 82 NSCLC patients with wildtype mutations of EGFR at Dr. H.A. Rotinsulu Lung Hospital, Bandung, and Dharmais Cancer Hospital, Jakarta. Data were collected prospectively from whole blood samples and medical records, while the effectiveness of chemotherapy was assessed by evaluating the response using RECIST 1.1 criteria on fourth cycle of chemotherapy. The results of this study showed the presence of genotype variation among the subjects, with frequency distribution as follows: AA genotype (82.9%), AC genotype (15.9%), and CC genotype (1.2%). The analysis of the association between ERCC2 rs13181 CC + AC versus AA with RECIST 1.1 yielded an odds ratio (OR) of 1.042 (95% CI: 0.292-3.715; p=0.950). A multivariate analysis that included cancer stage and chemotherapy regimen as additional variables produced an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.970 (95% CI: 0.263-3.568; p=0.963). This study did not find statistically significant associations between ERCC2 rs13181 polymorphisms and chemotherapy responses. However, this research highlights the presence of genetic variation within the Indonesian population, with the AA genotype being the most prevalent, which may influence chemotherapy responses. The results provided preliminary data and lay the foundation for future comprehensive cohort observational investigations.

Investigation of mechanisms of sulfamethoxazole adsorption on novel adsorbents developed from reed canary grass

In this work, reed canary grass and activated carbons developed from this biomass were used as novel adsorbents to remove sulfamethoxazole (SMX) from water. Raw biomass adsorbent with the lowest surface area demonstrated the lowest SMX adoption capacity of 20.2 ± 1.6 mg/g and the activated carbon adsorbent with the highest surface area showed the highest adsorption capacity of 160.5 ± 4.2 mg/g. π-π, hydrogen bonding, Lewis acid base, and hydrophobic interactions are the possible mechanisms that could be responsible for adsorption of SMX on the adsorbents. Methanol, hydrochloric acid solution, sodium hydroxide solution, and deionized water were used to desorb SMX from the adsorbent. The results of using 20 mL of solvent at 35 °C showed that methanol could desorb loaded SMX with a higher desorption efficiency (80.1 ± 2%) than the aqueous solvents (9.5-46.5%). Decreasing the temperature to 25 °C decreased the desorption efficiency of methanol to 58.5 ± 1%. By decreasing the methanol volume to 5 mL, SMX desorption efficiency could remain comparable (59.1 ± 1.2%). Reusing the adsorbent in 4 adsorption desorption cycles showed that SMX adsorption capacity reduced from 124.9 ± 3.8 mg/g in the first adsorption cycle to 82.1 ± 2.2 mg/g in the second adsorption cycle and was stable in the third and fourth cycles.

Development of Zeolite Imidazole Framework-Based Adsorbent for Effective Microextraction and Preconcentration of Histamine in Food Samples.

This study is the first to focus on the preconcentration and determination of histamine (HIS) in food samples using zeolite imidazole frameworks (ZIFs) on a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) platform. ZIF was developed on a polypropylene hollow fiber (PPHF) substrate (ZIF@PPHF) and characterized. The extraction performance was optimized by adjusting several parameters, including pH, contact time for adsorption, and desorption conditions. Under the optimized conditions, a wide linear dynamic range (0.05-250 mg/L) with high R2 values (0.9989), low limit of detection (0.019 mg/L), and low limit of quantification (0.050 mg/L) were determined as analytical figures of merit. Additionally, a reusability study confirmed that ZIF@PPHF preconcentrated 83% of the HIS up to the fourth cycle. The developed method was used to preconcentrate HIS in fish and cheese samples. The spiked real samples confirmed the validity and accuracy of this method. The percentage mean recoveries ± relative standard deviation (% RSD, n = 3) at the concentration levels of 5, 10, and 50 mg/L of HIS and the sample amount of 5 g for intra- and inter days ranged from 97 ± 1.10 to 102.80 ± 0.90 and from 96.40 ± 1.82 to 103.40 ± 0.79, respectively. The results suggest that the analytical method validation parameters were acceptable, indicating the repeatability and sensitivity of the method.

Understanding the Growth of Electrodeposited PtNi Nanoparticle Films Using Correlated In Situ Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy and Synchrotron Radiation.

Electrodeposition is a versatile method for synthesizing nanostructured films, but controlling the morphology of films containing two or more elements requires a detailed understanding of the deposition process. We used liquid cell transmission electron microscopy to follow the electrodeposition of PtNi nanoparticle films on a carbon electrode during cyclic voltammetry. These in situ observations show that the film thickness increases with each cycle, and by the fourth cycle, branched and porous structures could be deposited. Synchrotron studies using in situ transmission X-ray microscopy further revealed that Ni was deposited in the oxide phase. Ex situ studies of bulk electrodeposited PtNi nanoparticle films indicated the number of cycles and the scanning rate were the most influential parameters, resulting in a different thickness, a different homogeneity, a different nanoparticle size, and a different surface structure, while the precursor concentration did not have a significant influence. By varying the potential range, we were able to obtain films with different elemental compositions.

Reusability and regeneration of antibacterial filter immobilized zinc oxide nanoparticles on white silica gel beads coated with chitosan

Most antibacterial air filters show good performance for single-use. However, reusable ones are also essential for reducing cost, emergency use, and environmental reduction waste, which are still less attention by researchers. This study investigated the reusability and regeneration capabilities of air filters containing zinc oxide nanoparticles immobilized on white silica gel beads coated with chitosan (ZnOChSi). TEM confirmed nanoparticle size of 11.5 ± 2 nm and dispersed particles. Bacteria-containing spore (Bacillus subtilis) was used to investigate the antibacterial properties of the air filter. The reusable ZnOChSi air filter showed antibacterial properties up to the fourth cycle (4 × 48 h) with >20% efficacy and was no longer practical for the fifth cycle. The regenerated ZnOChSi air filter still performed relatively high antibacterial properties until the third cycle (3 × 48 h) with >50% efficacy and was slowly decreased for continued use. This regeneration test confirmed that the cleansing (heating) method carried out once after 2 × 48 h re-activated the antibacterial properties of the filter. The zinc content release was 1.186 mg/L (0.012% from 10.245 g of the zinc oxide filter).

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of brilliant green using g-C3N5/WO3 nanocomposite: A Z-scheme charge transfer approach under visible light irradiation

The industrial use of dyes is harming natural ecosystems. Photocatalysis is a potentially useful method for addressing these kinds of environmental contaminants. The present study addresses the synthesis of a novel g-C3N5/WO3 Z-scheme heterojunction via the ultra-sonication method and the calcination method with the use of a triazole. The toxic dye, brilliant green (BG) was degraded by utilizing the prepared photocatalyst. The elemental composition, surface morphology and structureof the prepared g-C3N5/WO3nanocomposite were analysed using various techniques including XPS, PL, SEM-EDAX, HRTEM, and XRD. The average diameter of the g-C3N5/WO3 nanocomposite was found to be 44 nm using TEM. The optical properties were analysed using UV-DRS. The as-synthesized g-C3N5/WO3nanocomposite had a direct band gap of 2.27 eV, as determined fromTauc’s plot and demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic degradation efficacy for the elimination of the BG dye via the Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP). A degradation efficacy of 99.4 % within a short interval of time of 60 min was achieved by the prepared photocatalyst under various optimum situations. The rate constant of the photocatalytic reaction was calculated to be 0.05994 min−1 following a pseudo first order kinetics. Additionally, with an efficiency of90.17 %the photocatalyst can be recycled upto the fourth cycle. The current work accomplishes the goal of creating an innovative and effective photocatalyst that is responsive towards visible light.

Mesoporous g-C3N4/ZnFe2O4/TCPP nanocomposite for selective liquid-phase oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes under visible light irradiation

This study provides a viable strategy for the production of aromatic benzaldehydes by a three-component magnetic recoverable photocatalyst. The novel photocatalyst was fabricated by modification of Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) using ZnFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles and Tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) and labeled as CFP where C is the carbonic substrate, F shows the magnetic component and P demonstrated TCPP porphyrin. The optimized CFP photocatalyst demonstrated approximately 96 % conversion and 99 % selectivity for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. The photocatalytic reaction carried out in the presence of acetonitrile and H2O2 as solvent and oxidant under LED lamp (15 W) irradiation. The results reveal that the values of conversion and selectivity of various types of benzylic alcohols are attributed to the aromaticity and position of substituents on the benzene ring. The reusability of CFP photocatalyst was investigated up to the fourth cycle, and it revealed any significant loss of photocatalytic oxidation activity, which is related to high structural stability of photocatalyst.

Fabrication of Cu3Mo2O9 doped MWCNT nanocomposites as efficient photocatalyst for malachite green dye degradation

In the present work, Cu3Mo2O9@MWCNT was synthesised by a simple co-precipitation method followed by ultrasonication. The synthesised nanocomposite was analysed by spectral and analytical characterization techniques, such as FT-IR, XRD, PL, FESEM, XPS, HRTEM, BET and LCMS. The Cu3Mo2O9@MWCNT nanocomposites achieved photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 96 % for malachite green dye under visible light in 180 min. Furthermore, scavenger tests were carried out to identify the role of reactive species aided in the degradation process. Cu3Mo2O9@MWCNT shows stable photocatalytic performance until the fourth cycle. The constructed nanocomposites exhibited excellent stability and reusability features that were suitable for its practical application.

Effectiveness of an intervention (effleurage and petrissage) on the severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) among patients: A randomized control pilot trial.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a dose-dependent, nerve-damaging adverse reaction with reported prevalence rates of 68.1% at the first month after starting chemotherapy; 60.0 % at the third month; and 30% at the sixth month. To determine the effectiveness of an intervention (effleurage and petrissage) on severity of CIPN among patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. Sixty patients receiving either a third or fourth cycle of platinum-based chemotherapy were randomly assigned to one of two groups with a pre- and post-test design. The interventional group received effleurage and petrissage prior to chemotherapy for a period of one month. Comparisons of CIPN levels among both groups were done at Day 7, 14, 21, and 1 month using the FACT/ GOG-Ntx subscale. Prior to intervention, the mean score (+SD) of CIPN in the intervention group was 17.17 (+4.907) and 17.10 (+ 4.421) in the control group (T = 0.055, P value 0.956). The post-test scores following intervention at 1 month, was a mean score (+SD) for CIPN in the intervention group of 10.70 (±2.855) and 16.27 (±3.039) in the control group (P value 0.000). This pilot result supports that the intervention (effleurage and petrissage) can be effective in reducing CIPN severity levels among patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy.