Search Results (49)

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) are well known for their capacity to enhance the growth and survival of in vitro-grown plants. However, their effect on Nardostachys jatamansi (D. Don) DC., a critically endangered medicinal plant in the Indian Himalayan Region, is still unknown. In this study, a simple, reproducible protocol for in vitro propagation of N. jatamansi was established using shoot tip explants, cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators, including N6-benzylaminopurine, thidiazuron (TDZ), and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). MS media supplemented with 2.0 μM TDZ and 0.5 µM NAA created a significant shoot induction with an average of 6.2 shoots per explant. These aseptically excised individual shoots produced roots on MS medium supplemented with Indole Butyric Acid or NAA within 14 days of the transfer. The PGPR, viz., Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas corrugata, inoculation resulted in improved growth, higher chlorophyll content, and survival of in vitro-rooted plants (94.6%) after transfer to the soil. Moreover, the PGPRs depicted a two-fold higher total phenolics (45.87 mg GAE/g DW) in plants. These results clearly demonstrate the beneficial effects of P. corrugata and B. subtilis on the growth, survival, and phytochemical content of N. jatamansi. Full article

This study examines the behavior of Rayleigh waves propagating through a homogeneous, isotropic material, analyzed using a three-phase-lag thermoelastic diffusion framework enhanced by modified couple stress theory. The mathematical model integrates coupled thermoelastic and diffusive effects, incorporating phase-lags associated with (1) temperature gradients, (2) heat flux, and (3) thermal displacement gradients. By solving the derived governing equations analytically subject to stress-free, thermally insulated, and impermeable boundary conditions, we obtain the characteristic secular equation for Rayleigh wave propagation. Numerical simulations conducted on a copper medium evaluate how the secular equation’s determinant, wave velocity, and attenuation coefficient vary with angular frequency. The analysis focuses particularly on the influence of phase-lag parameters, including thermal and diffusion gradients and relaxation times. Results demonstrated that increasing the displacement gradient phase-lag elevated the secular determinant but reduced wave velocity and attenuation, while temperature gradient phase-lags exhibited the opposite trend. The study highlights the sensitivity of Rayleigh wave propagation to thermo-diffusive coupling and microstructural effects, offering insights applicable to seismic wave analysis, geophysical exploration, and material processing. Comparisons with prior theories underscore the model’s advancement in capturing size-dependent and memory-dependent phenomena. Full article

The rise of two-dimensional (2D) materials has transformed gas sensing, with Nb₂CT_x MXene drawing significant interest due to its distinct physicochemical behaviors. As part of the MXene family, Nb₂CT_x MXene demonstrates a remarkable combination of high electrical conductivity, adjustable surface chemistry, and exceptional mechanical flexibility, positioning it as a promising candidate for next-generation gas sensors. This review explores the synthesis techniques for Nb₂CT_x MXene, highlighting etching methods and post-synthesis adjustments to achieve the tailored surface terminations and structural qualities essential for gas detection. A comprehensive examination of the crystal structure, morphology, and electronic characteristics of Nb₂CT_x MXene is presented to clarify its outstanding sensing capabilities. The application of Nb₂CT_x MXene for detecting gases, including NH₃, humidity, NO₂, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), is assessed, showcasing its sensitivity, selectivity, and low detection limits across various environmental settings. Furthermore, the integration of Nb₂CT_x MXene with other nanostructures in sensor platforms is reviewed. Lastly, challenges related to scalability, stability, and long-term performance are addressed, along with future prospects for Nb₂CT_x MXene-based gas sensors. This review offers significant insights into the potential of Nb₂CT_x MXene as a pioneering material for enhancing gas sensing technologies. Full article

Nanotechnology is transforming contemporary medicine by providing cutting-edge tools for the treatment and diagnosis of complex disorders. Advanced techniques such as bioimaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT) combine early diagnosis and targeted therapy, offering a more precise approach than conventional treatments. However, a significant obstacle for PDT is the need to selectively deliver photosensitizers to disease sites while minimizing systemic side effects. In this context, mesenchymal stem cells have emerged as promising biological carriers due to their natural tropism towards tumors, low immunogenicity, and their ability to overcome biological barriers. In this study, two push–pull compounds, NPI-PTZ and BTZ-PTZ, phenothiazine derivatives featuring aggregation-induced emission (AIE) abilities, were analyzed. These molecules proved to be excellent fluorescent probes and photosensitizing agents. When administered to human bone marrow-derived multipotent stromal cells (hBM-MSCs) and human adipose multipotent stem cells (hASCs), the compounds were efficiently internalized, maintained a stable fluorescent emission for several days, and showed phototoxicity after irradiation, without inducing major cytotoxic effects under normal conditions. These results highlight the potential of NPI-PTZ and BTZ-PTZ combined with mesenchymal stem cells as theranostic tools, bridging bioimaging and PDT, and suggest new possibilities for advanced therapeutic approaches in clinical applications. Full article

Tungsten heavy alloys (WHAs) are two-phase composites known for their exceptional density, strength, hardness, and ductility, making them ideal for radiation shielding, kinetic energy penetrators, and aerospace components. Due to their high melting point, WHAs are primarily processed via powder metallurgy, with liquid-phase sintering (LPS). Spark plasma sintering (SPS) and microwave sintering are emerging as advanced consolidation techniques. Recent research has focused on improving WHA performance through microstructural manipulation, alloying with elements like Fe, Co, Mo, and Re; rare earth oxides like Y₂O₃, La₂O₃, and Ce₂O₃; and employing high-entropy alloys (HEAs) as matrix phase. Additionally, additive manufacturing (AM) techniques are increasingly being used to fabricate complex WHA components. Despite their advantages, WHAs still exhibit limitations in penetration performance, primarily due to their tendency to form mushroom-like heads upon impact rather than self-sharpening. Ongoing research seeks to enhance shear localization, refine grain structure, and optimize processing methods to improve the mechanical properties and impact resistance of WHAs. Furthermore, modeling and simulation approaches are being explored to understand the mechanical behavior of WHAs. This review comprehensively overviews the above aspects and presents recent advances in WHA processing. Full article

Background: Cognitive control (CC) underpins our ability to maintain task focus, update goals, and flexibly shift between strategies, and it is closely tied to prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity. Electronic gaming (e-gaming), such as the first-person shooter (FPS) genre, is a specialized domain that demands refined CC skills developed over years of practice. Although previous research has demonstrated that PFC hemodynamic activity can effectively evaluate CC in several skilled domains, the impact of prolonged FPS experience on CC and its underlying neural correlates remains unclear. Objectives: In this study, we examined differences in both behavioral performance and PFC hemodynamic responses between 70 novices and 50 experienced FPS gamers (n=120). Methods: We targeted three core CC subdomains—updating, shifting, and inhibition—by employing the Digit–Symbol Substitution Task, Dual Visual Search Task, and Stroop Task, respectively. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-based PFC activity was recorded as participants engaged in each task. Results: Experienced gamers showed higher levels of prefrontal neural efficiency for updating and shifting, but minimal differences for inhibitory control. Conclusions: These findings inform neuroergonomic approaches to performance evaluation and may be generalized to other complex, real-world environments that rely on extensive training for skill acquisition. Full article

Objective: To investigate the inter-method agreement between in-person consultations and video recordings when diagnosing BPPV. Methods: Two experienced vestibular clinicians (clinician A and B) evaluated patients for the presence and type of BPPV, using the TRV chair (Interacoustics, Middlefart, DK), at a tertiary referral center. During these in-person consultations, diagnostic maneuvers and eye movements were recorded, and a diagnosis was made. Both clinicians independently evaluated their cases again, during two video review sessions (Video Review 1 and Video Review 2). These sessions were conducted one month apart. Both clinicians were blinded to patient information and medical history during the analysis and did not have access to sound recordings. They were asked to provide a new diagnosis, based on the videos alone. Inter-method and intra-observer agreement for BPPV diagnoses between in-person consultations and video reviews were assessed using the percentage of agreement and Cohen’s kappa. An independent analysis of all patients’ eye movements was conducted to identify patterns that might have influenced agreement between in-person consultation diagnoses and the two video reviews by clinicians. Results: During the in-person consultations, each clinician evaluated 100 patients. Clinician A diagnosed BPPV in 40% of the cases, while clinician B diagnosed it in 19% of the cases. Considering the inter-method agreement, clinician A agreed on 81% (95% CI (73, 89)) and 77% (95% CI (69, 85)) of the cases with associated kappa coefficients of 0.67 (95% CI (0.55, 0.79)) and 0.63 (95% CI (0.51, 0.75)) between in-person consultations and Video Reviews 1 and 2, respectively. For clinician B, the percentages of agreement were, respectively, 86% (95% CI (79, 93)) and 84% (95% CI (77, 91)), with corresponding kappa coefficients of 0.55 (95% CI (0.36, 0.74)) and 0.51 (95% CI (0.32, 0.70)). As for the intra-observer agreement, clinician A achieved an intra-observer agreement of 84% (95% CI (77, 91)) with kappa = 0.74 (95% CI (0.63, 0.85)), while clinician B achieved a slightly higher intra-observer agreement of 90% (95% CI (84, 96)) with kappa = 0.67 (95% CI (0.51, 0.83)). Descriptive analysis of the eye movement revealed that both clinicians showed high diagnostic consistency for “no BPPV” in cases without provoked nystagmus (78/86, 91%) even when spontaneous nystagmus was present, and for posterior canal BPPV (37/78, 47%) when characteristic nystagmus was observed. However, disagreement was noted for horizontal canal BPPV (15 cases) and in scenarios with subjective BPPV (2 cases) or purely vertical nystagmus (11/31 cases, 35%). Conclusions: This study showed the feasibility of using video recordings when diagnosing BPPV. It demonstrates that BPPV might be reliably diagnosed in a telemedicine setting. However, careful consideration must be given to certain factors during the protocol’s design to improve the diagnostic process. Full article

Electrochemical water splitting is a feasible and effective method for attaining hydrogen, offering a mechanism for renewable energy solutions to combat the world’s energy crises due to the scarcity of fossil fuels. Evidently, the viability and stability of the electrocatalysts are fundamental to the electrochemical water-splitting process. However, the net efficiency of this process is noticeably hindered by the kinetic drawbacks related to the OER. Hence, NiFe LDH has been widely used as a highly efficient OER and HER catalyst material due to its unique nanostructure, tunable composition, and favorable electronic structure. This review offers a systematic analysis of the latest progress in the fabrication of functional NiFe LDH catalysts and associated fabrication strategies, structure optimizations, and performance improvements. Special emphasis is given to understanding the role of nanostructure engineering in increasing active site accessibility, enhancing the effectiveness of subsequent electron transfer, and boosting the intrinsic catalytic activity for HER and OER. Moreover, we discuss the influence of doping, defects, and the formation of heterostructures with other materials on the OER and HER activities of NiFe LDHs. Additional accounts of basic structures and the OER and HER catalytic activities are provided, along with an enhanced theoretical understanding based on DFT studies on the NiFe LDH. Moreover, the limitations and potential developments of the work focus on the need for existing synthesis approaches, the stability of the NiFe LDH catalysts, and their insertion into working electrochemical processes. This review is a comprehensive analysis of the current state of research and developments in the use of NiFe LDH catalysts for the electrochemical water-splitting process to foster improved development of sustainable hydrogen sources in the future. Full article

In recent years, the need for future developments in sensor technology has arisen out of the changing landscape, such as pollution monitoring, industrial safety, and healthcare. MXenes, a 2D class of transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, have emerged as a particularly promising group in part due to their exceptionally high conductivity, large area, and tunable surface chemistry. Proposed future research directions, including material modification and novel sensor designs, are presented to maximize Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-based sensors for various gas sensing applications. While recent progress in Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-based gas sensors is reviewed, we consolidate their material properties, fabrication strategy, and sensing mechanisms. Further, the significant progress on the synthesis and applications of Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-based gas sensors, as well as the innovative technologies developed, will be discussed in detail. Interestingly, the high sensitivity, selectivity, and quick response times identified in recent studies are discussed, with specificity and composite formation highlighted to have a significant influence on sensor performance. In addition, this review highlights the limitations witnessed in real-life implementability, including stability, the possibility of achieving reproducible results, and interaction with currently available technologies. Prospects for further work are considered, emphasizing increased production scale, new techniques for synthesis, and new application areas for Ti₃C₂T_x MXenes, including electronic nose and environmental sensing. Contemplating the existing works, further directions and the development framework for Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-based gas sensors are discussed. Full article

Herein, this work elucidates the synthesis of the Pd-MoS₂ catalyst for application in methanol-mediated overall water splitting. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) pictures offer an exciting nanostructured shape of the Pd-MoS₂, depicting a high surface area. Further, high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) pictures confirm the lattice plane (100), lattice spacing (0.26 nm), and hexagonal crystal structure of the Pd-MoS₂. Moreover, high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) images and related color maps disclose the Mo, S, and Pd elements of the Pd-MoS₂. The Pd-MoS₂ catalyst exhibits lower overpotentials of 224.6 mV [methanol-mediated hydrogen evolution reaction (MM-HER)] at −10 mA cm⁻² and 133 mV [methanol-mediated oxygen evolution reaction (MM-OER)] at 10 mA cm⁻². Further, the Pd-MoS₂ illustrates noteworthy stability for 15.5 h for MM-HER and 18 h for MM-OER by chronopotentiometry test. Excitingly, the Pd-MoS₂∥Pd-MoS₂ cell reveals a small potential of 1.581 V compared to the MoS₂∥MoS₂ cell (1.648 V) in methanol-mediated overall water splitting. In addition, the Pd-MoS₂∥Pd-MoS₂ combination reveals brilliant durability over 18 h at 10 mA cm⁻². Full article

Development of native microbial consortia is crucial for the sustainable management of plant diseases in modern agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the antagonistic potential of various microbial isolates against Rhizoctonia bataticola, a significant soil-borne pathogen. A total of 480 bacteria, 283 fungi, and 150 actinomycetes were isolated and screened using in vitro dual plate assays. Among these, isolates 5F, 131B, 223B, and 236B demonstrated the highest antagonistic activity, with inhibition rates of 88.24%, 87.5%, 81.25%, and 81.25%, respectively. The selected isolates were further assessed for abiotic stress tolerance, revealing their ability to thrive under extreme conditions. Characterization of biocontrol and plant growth-promoting activities revealed the production of siderophores, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, chitinase, and indole-3-acetic acid, along with the solubilization of zinc and phosphorus. Compatibility tests confirmed the potential of forming effective microbial consortia, which significantly reduced the percent disease index in cluster bean. The most effective consortium, comprising Trichoderma afroharzianum 5F, Pseudomonas fluorescens 131B, Bacillus licheniformis 223B, and Bacillus subtilis 236B, achieved a 76.5% disease control. Additionally, this consortium enhanced total phenol (92.1%), flavonoids (141.6%), and antioxidant defense enzyme activities including POX (188.5%), PPOX (116.3%), PAL (71.2%), and TAL (129.9%) in cluster bean plants over the infected control, leading to substantial improvements in systemic resistance of plants. This consortium also significantly enhanced plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, number of pods per plant, and seed yield over the infected control as well as mock control. This study underscores the potential of these robust microbial consortia as a sustainable and effective strategy for managing R. bataticola and enhancing crop productivity under extreme environmental conditions. Full article

African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa Hochst, Ex. A. Rich. Harms) is an important grain legume in Sub-Saharan Africa because of its nutritional value and adaptability to various agroecological zones. To foster the varietal development of improved African yam bean (AYB) genotypes with economic traits, it is necessary to validate parental polymorphism for key markers in selecting progenies from crosses between desired parents. This study aims to analyze the genetic fidelity between parents and F1 progenies in African yam bean through putative cowpea simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Hence, a total of seventy-seven progenies were derived from four sets of biparental crossings using drought-susceptible (TSs-96, TSs-363, and TSs-274) and drought-tolerant (TSs-417, TSs-111, and TSs-78) AYB accessions. These were validated using 120 cowpea primers targeting SSRs under optimal PCR conditions, and the size of the PCR-amplified DNA fragments was checked using gel electrophoresis. Twenty primers exhibited polymorphism in the parental lines, while ten displayed higher levels of the same polymorphism. The average polymorphism level for the surveyed SSR markers was 0.36. Given these findings, our study demonstrates that cowpea SSR markers are a reliable method for the regular testing and clear identification of AYB crosses, indicating potential AYB improvements. Full article

Herein, we prepare MoS₂ and Cu-MoS₂ catalysts using the solvothermal method, a widely accepted technique for electrocatalytic overall water-splitting applications. TEM and SEM images, standard tools in materials science, provide a clear view of the morphology of Cu-MoS₂. HRTEM analysis, a high-resolution imaging technique, confirms the lattice spacing, lattice plane, and crystal structure of Cu-MoS₂. HAADF and corresponding color mapping and advanced imaging techniques reveal the existence of the Cu-doping, Mo, and S elements in Cu-MoS₂. Notably, Cu plays a crucial role in improving the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) of the Cu-MoS₂ catalyst as compared with the MoS₂ catalyst. In addition, the Cu-MoS₂ catalyst demonstrates significantly lower overpotential (167.7 mV and 290 mV) and Tafel slopes (121.5 mV dec⁻¹ and 101.5 mV dec⁻¹), standing at −10 mA cm⁻² and 10 mA cm⁻² for HER and OER, respectively, compared to the MoS₂ catalyst. Additionally, the Cu-MoS₂ catalyst displays outstanding stability for 12 h at −10 mA cm⁻² of HER and 12 h at 10 mA cm⁻² of OER using chronopotentiaometry. Interestingly, the Cu-MoS₂‖Cu-MoS₂ cell displays a lower cell potential of 1.69 V compared with the MoS₂‖MoS₂ cell of 1.81 V during overall water splitting. Moreover, the Cu-MoS₂‖Cu-MoS₂ cell shows excellent stability when using chronopotentiaometry for 18 h at 10 mA cm⁻². Full article

The purpose of this study was to examine correlations between health indicators (age, BMI, blood pressure (BP), functional strength (FS), handgrip strength, and predicted VO₂ max) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in an active 50 years+ population. Study participants’ mean cIMT was also compared to the cIMT mean of the general population. Health screenings were conducted on 1818 participants at the Huntsman World Senior Games from 2016 to 2019. Pearson’s correlations, Spearman’s correlations, and ANOVA were performed using SPSS. Weak but significant correlations were evident between cIMT and age (r = 0.283, p < 0.001), systolic BP (r = 0.253, p = 0.001), diastolic BP (r = 0.074, p = 0.016), weight (r = 0.170, p < 0.001), height (r = 0.153, p < 0.001), handgrip L (r = 0.132, p < 0.001), handgrip R (r = 0.074, p < 0.029), and BMI (r = 0.07, p = 0.029); non-significant correlations were evident with predicted VO₂ max (r = −0.035, p = 0.382), and FS (r = −0.025, p = 0.597). When controlling for age, systolic BP, and sex, only handgrip L (r = 0.225, p = 0.014) was significantly correlated with cIMT. Mean cIMT for this cohort was lower across all sexes and age-matched groups (cIMT = 0.6967 mm (±0.129)). Physical activity is linked to reduced cIMT. Most health-related indicators in this study were significantly but weakly correlated with cIMT. Additional research is needed before common indicators can be used as a surrogate for cIMT and CVD risk. Results from this study can provide clinicians with additional information to reduce CVD risk through modifiable risk factors. Classic CVD risk factors such as systolic BP and BMI should be considered in patients regardless of lifestyle. Full article

This study explores the potential efficacy of chlorogenic acid (CGA) in mitigating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cystitis in a mice model. C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups: normal control (NC), LPS, LPS + low CGA, and LPS + high CGA. Evaluation methods included cystometrogram (CMG), histopathological, western blot, and immunohistological analysis. In the LPS group, CMG revealed abnormal voiding behavior with increased micturition pressure, voided volume (VV), and decreased voided frequency. Low CGA treatment in LPS mice demonstrated improved micturition pressure and inter-contraction intervals (ICI). However, high CGA treatment exhibited prolonged ICI and increased VV, suggesting potential adverse effects. Histological analysis of LPS-treated mice displayed bladder inflammation and interstitial edema. Low CGA treatment reduced interstitial edema and bladder inflammation, confirmed by Masson’s trichrome staining. Western blotting revealed increased cytokeratin 20 (K20) expression in the low CGA group, indicating structural abnormalities in the bladder umbrella layer after LPS administration. In conclusion, low CGA treatment positively impacted voiding behavior and decreased bladder edema and inflammation in the LPS-induced cystitis mice model, suggesting its potential as a supplement for inflammation cystitis prevention. However, high CGA treatment exhibited adverse effects, emphasizing the importance of dosage considerations in therapeutic applications. Full article