Search Results (101)

Medicinal plants are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds, making them potentially suitable for use as chemotherapeutic agents and as additives in aquafeed. Our research evaluated the effects of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) extract supplemented in sunflower-based diets on the growth, carcass composition, blood indices, mineral content, liver antioxidant enzyme profile, and immune response in Cirrhinus mrigala (8.26 ± 0.07 g/fish). The juveniles were fed one of seven different diets—T₀ (no extract), T₁ (0.5%), T₂ (1%), T₃ (1.5%), T₄ (2%), T₅ (2.5%), and T₆ (3%)—twice daily, at a feeding rate of 5% of their live body weight. They were stocked in V-shaped steel tanks for 90 days, with 15 juveniles per tank and three replicates per dietary treatment. The results of this research revealed that 1–2% purslane extract substantially enhanced growth indices in fish (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the supplementation of 1–2% dietary purslane extract in the diet significantly lowered fat content and improved protein content (p < 0.05) compared to the diets with 0% and 3% purslane extract inclusion. The outcomes also indicated that the hematology and mineral content in the bodies of juveniles were significantly improved (p < 0.05) at all levels of purslane supplementation, relative to the control groups with 0% and 3% inclusion levels. Moreover, the administration of purslane extract markedly increased the liver antioxidant profile, including glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. Additionally, there was a notable reduction in malondialdehyde levels when fish were fed diets having 1% and 1.5% extract. The findings of this study also revealed improvements in immunological markers, characterized by increased lysozyme activity and elevated total globulin levels. The current research suggests that supplementing C. mrigala diets with 1% purslane extract optimally enhances growth and immunity. Full article

A periprocedural prosthetic valve leak (PVL) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), a minimally invasive treatment modality for patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis, may entail serious morbidity. Cohorts hospitalized for TAVI from a national database (2016–2020) were stratified on the presence of PVL post-TAVI. TAVI patients with and without PVL were selected for propensity score matching. Pearson’s x² test was used to compare outcomes. Among 319,448 TAVI patients over five years, 2043 had periprocedural PVL identified at index hospitalization, acute heart failure (49.61% vs. 41.15%, p < 0.001), acute kidney injury (20.40% vs. 11.77%, p < 0.001), cardiac tamponade (1.31% vs. 0.52%, p < 0.05), higher inpatient mortality (3.05% vs. 1.05%, p < 0.001), postprocedural bleeding (3.5% vs. 1.48%, p < 0.001), sudden cardiac arrest (15.34% vs. 8.54%, p < 0.001), and vascular complications (4.10% vs. 1.57%, p < 0.001). TAVI with PVL was associated with a significantly longer length of stay (p < 0.05) and total cost of hospitalization (p < 0.05). The 30-day (15.2% vs. 12%, p = 0.02), 90-day (24.4% vs. 19.9%, p < 0.01), and 180-day (34.7% vs. 24.8%, p < 0.01) readmission rates were significantly higher in the TAVI cohort with PVL. PVL in patients post-TAVI is associated with greater mortality and morbidity during index hospitalization, higher readmission rates, and increased burden on healthcare costs and infrastructure. Full article

Istaroxime, an intravenous inotropic agent with a dual mechanism—increasing both cardiomyocyte contractility and relaxation—is a novel treatment for acute heart failure (AHF), the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in heart failure. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis that synthesized randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which were retrieved by systematically searching PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Cochrane until 24 April 2023. We used a fixed-effect or random-effect model—according to heterogeneity—to pool dichotomous data using the risk ratio (RR) and continuous data using the mean difference (MD), with a 95% confidence interval (CI). We included three RCTs with a total of 300 patients. Istaroxime was significantly associated with an increased left ventricular ejection fraction (mL) (MD: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.29, 1.82; p = 0.007), stroke volume index (MD: 3.04, 95% CI: 2.41, 3.67; p = 0.00001), and cardiac index (L/min/m²) (MD: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.11, 025; p = 0.00001). Also, istaroxime was significantly associated with a decreased E/A ratio (MD: −0.39, 95% CI: −0.58, −0.19; p = 0.0001) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (mmHg) (MD: 2.30, 95% CI: 3.20, 1.40; p = 0.00001). Istaroxime was significantly associated with increased systolic blood pressure (mmHg) (MD: 5.32, 95% CI: 2.28, 8.37; p = 0.0006) and decreased heart rate (bpm) (MD: −3.05, 95% CI: −5.27, −0.82; p = 0.007). Since istaroxime improved hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters, it constitutes a promising strategy for AHF management. However, the current literature is limited to a small number of RCTs, warranting further large-scale phase III trials before clinical endorsement. Full article

To satisfy the ever-increasing energy demands, it is of the utmost importance to develop electrochemical materials capable of producing and storing energy in a highly efficient manner. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) has recently emerged as a promising choice in this field due to its non-toxicity, low cost, and eco-friendliness, in addition to its porosity, large surface area, good mechanical strength, and remarkable transport properties. Here, we present titanium dioxide nanoplates/polyvinylidene fluoride (TiO₂/PVDF) membranes prepared by a straightforward hydrothermal strategy and vacuum filtration process. The as-synthesized TiO₂/PVDF membrane was applied for energy storage applications. The fabricated TiO₂/PVDF membrane served as the negative electrode for supercapacitors (SCs). The electrochemical properties of a TiO₂/PVDF membrane were explored in an aqueous 6 M KOH electrolyte that exhibited good energy storage performance. Precisely, the TiO₂/PVDF membrane delivered a high specific capacitance of 283.74 F/g at 1 A/g and maintained capacitance retention of 91% after 8000 cycles. Thanks to the synergistic effect of TiO₂ and PVDF, the TiO₂/PVDF membrane provided superior electrochemical performance as an electrode for a supercapacitor. These superior properties will likely be used in next-generation energy storage technologies. Full article

Zinc (Zn) ion supercapacitors (ZISCs) have attracted considerable attention as a viable energy storage technology because they are cost-effective, safe, and environmentally friendly. However, cathode materials with suitable properties are rare and need to be explored. In this regard, metal carbides (MXenes) are a good choice for capacitive energy storage, but they exhibit low capacitance. The energy storage performance of MXenes can be bossed using functionalization with heteroatom doping, e.g., nitrogen (N), to simultaneously modify ZISCs’ fundamental characteristics and electrochemical properties. Herein, we present an in-situ N-functionalization of Ti₃C₂T_x-MXene via a hydrothermal reaction with urea (denoted as N-Ti₃C₂T_x-MXene). N-functionalization into Ti₃C₂T_x-MXene raised Ti₃C₂T_x-MXene’s interlayer spacing and boosted the Zn-ion storage in 1 M ZnSO₄ electrolyte. The N-Ti₃C₂T_x-MXene electrode delivered an excellent specific capacitance of 582.96 F/g at 1 A/g and retained an outstanding cycle stability of 94.62% after 5000 cycles at 10 A/g, which is 1.8 times higher than pristine Ti₃C₂T_x-MXene at identical conditions. Moreover, the N-Ti₃C₂T_x-MXene//Zn device demonstrated a maximum capacitance of 153.55 F/g at 1 A/g, retained 92% of its initial value after 5000 cycles, and its Coulombic efficiency was ~100%. This strategy considerably reduced Ti₃C₂T_x-MXene nanosheet restacking and aggregation and enhanced electrochemical performance. Further, this research elucidated N-Ti₃C₂T_x-MXene’s charge–storage process and offered a fresh approach to the rational design of novel electrode materials for ZISCs. Full article

The Mitsunobu reaction plays a vital part in organic chemistry due to its wide synthetic applications. It is considered as a significant reaction for the interconversion of one functional group (alcohol) to another (ester) in the presence of oxidizing agents (azodicarboxylates) and reducing agents (phosphines). It is a renowned stereoselective reaction which inverts the stereochemical configuration of end products. One of the most important applications of the Mitsunobu reaction is its role in the synthesis of natural products. This review article will focus on the contribution of the Mitsunobu reaction towards the total synthesis of natural products, highlighting their biological potential during recent years. Full article

Background: Pakistan has challenges in fulfilling its universal responsibilities of providing better health facilities to everyone. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates. Despite declines in mother and child death, the total mortality ratio has marginally increased. However, neonatal death has not decreased significantly. Family planning is important for controlling population growth and improving child as well as maternal health. Pakistan’s government has unceasingly tried to enhance the provision of contraceptive facilities, but still, an unmet need for family planning (UMNFP) exists in our country. Women are said to have UMNFP if they want to limit or space childbearing, but they are not using contraception methods for any reason. The study aimed to explore the effect of the UMNFP and to investigate the moderating role of a mother’s education and employment status on a child’s health. Methods: We analyzed the data of 2,244 women in this study. To investigate the study objectives, we utilized the secondary dataset of the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2017–18 (publicly available on the website of the National Institute of Population Studies) and applied binary logistic regression using SPSS 24. Results: Results suggest a positive effect of a woman’s age (25 to 39 years), maternal education (higher), father’s education (higher), family’s wealth status (richest), mass media exposure, and adequate birth spacing (at least for 33 months) on a child’s health. On the other hand, there is an indirect association between maternal employment, unmet need for family planning, and a child’s health. The moderating role of maternal education and employment on the relationship between household wealth status and a child’s health is positive. Conclusions: We conclude that the strong predictors of child health are UMNFP, maternal education, and employment. The link between the met need for family planning and the child’s health is positive. The moderating effect of maternal education and household wealth status on a child’s health is progressive. Similarly, the interaction effect of a mother’s employment and household wealth status on a child’s health is positive. Finally, we concluded that the link between the health of the child and household wealth status is much more diverse and positive when the mother is highly educated and currently employed. Full article

We investigated the quality of drinking water and its possible effects on human health in the Dera Ghazi Khan (D. G. Khan) district of Pakistan. Samples were collected from three tehsils of the D. G. Khan district, namely D. G. Khan, Kot Chutta, and Taunsa. A total of 50 samples (n = 50) were collected from the study area using standard procedures. The pH of the water samples ranged from 6.52–8.75, EC 0.31–9.78 dS m⁻¹, and TDS 105–985 mg L⁻¹. The bacterial analysis showed that 9 out of 50 samples (18%) contained pathogenic E. coli bacterial. The results showed that the pH and EC values of some sampling sites exceeded the WHO guidelines for drinking water. It was observed that the pH of only 1 sample, and the EC of 18 samples in D. G. Khan—5 in Kot Chutta and 16 in Tehsil Taunsa—exceeded the WHO guidelines. In terms of E. coli presence and related diseases (hepatitis A, B, and C), we collected data, which were screened and belonged to the sampling sites, from 1378 patients receiving treatment related to hepatitis A, B, and C. It was revealed that 530 patients belonged to the D. G. Khan site, followed by Taunsa (460), and Kot Chutta (388). Based on the results, it was concluded that the quality of drinking water samples generally was good, except for 6% of the samples, assessed using (SAR) and Kelly’s ratio (KR), and 9 sites were positive for E. coli. Full article

Drinking water contamination by arsenic (As) is of significant concern due to its potential cause of cancer and arsenicosis. In this study, out of the 200 samples (n = 200), the mean As concentrations ranged from below detection limit (BDL) to 3.30, 4.81, 4.42 and 3.85 µg L⁻¹ in small residential, roadside, industrial and household areas, respectively. From 200 total samples, 9% of the groundwater samples showed As levels higher than the WHO safe guideline limit of 10 μg L⁻¹. Human health risk was assessed using average daily intake (ADD), hazard quotient (HQ) and cancer risk (CR) values which were found to be greater than the recommended values by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (1.0 and 10⁻⁶) for health risk assessment. The CR were ranged from 0–5.7 × 10⁻¹, 4.0 × 10⁻¹, 2.0 × 10⁻¹ and 1.0 × 10⁻¹ in small residential areas for children, adolescents, males and females, respectively. In roadside areas, the values ranged from 0–2.8 × 10⁻¹, 4.0 × 10⁻¹, 2.0 × 10⁻¹ and 2.8 × 10⁻¹ for children, adolescents, males and females, while 0–5.9 × 10⁻¹, 4.1 × 10⁻¹, 2.1 × 10⁻¹ and 1.6 × 10⁻¹ in industrial areas and 0–8.0 × 10⁻¹, 2.91 × 10⁻¹, 2.6 × 10⁻¹ and 3.9 × 10⁻¹ were calculated in household sites. All the CR values were found to be exceeding the US-EPA limit (10⁻⁶) recommending that the people in the study area are more prone to carcinogenic risk. Overall, it was concluded that due to presence of As in drinking water, these areas tend to be at higher cancer risks. To provide safe drinking water for the people living in these As-affected areas, urgent remedial and management steps are required. Full article

With the growing scarcity of water, the remediation of water polluted with heavy metals is the need of hour. The present research work is aimed to address this problem by adsorbing heavy metals ions (Pb (II) and Cr (VI)) on modified graphene oxide having an excess of carboxylic acid groups. For this, graphene oxide (GO) was modified with chloroacetic acid to produce carboxylated graphene oxide (GO-COOH). The successful synthesis of graphene oxide and its modification has been confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The increase in surface area of graphene oxide after treatment with chloroacetic acid characterized by BET indicated its successful modification. A batch experiment was conducted to optimize the different factors affecting adsorption of both heavy metals on GO-COOH. After functionalization, we achieved maximum adsorption capacities of 588.23 mg g⁻¹ and 370.37 mg g⁻¹ for Pb and Cr, respectively, by GO-COOH which were high compared to the previously reported adsorbents of this kind. The Langmuir model (R² = 0.998) and Pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R² = 0.999) confirmed the monolayer adsorption of Pb and Cr on GO-COOH and the chemisorption as the dominant process governing adsorption mechanism. The present work shows that the carboxylation of GO can enhance its adsorption capacity efficiently and may be applicable for the treatment of wastewater. Full article

The current study aimed to produce synbiotic cheese, adding inulin and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis as prebiotics and probiotics, respectively. The physicochemical analysis, minerals and organic acids content, sensory evaluation, and probiotic count of the cheese were performed during the ripening. The significant effect of inulin (p ≤ 0.01) was found during the ripening period, and changes in physiochemical composition, minerals, and organic acid contents were also observed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the cheese revealed that inulin could improve the cheese structure. Meanwhile, inulin increased the likeliness of the cheese, and its probiotic viability remained above 10⁷ colony forming unit (CFU) per gram during ripening. Full article

Mass and cost tradeoffs by deploying three optimized spars, made of all-glass, hybrid and all-carbon composites, applied to a publicly available large-scale composite blade of 100 m in length for a 13.2 MW wind turbine, are explored. The blade mass and cost minimizations are calculated for two design load cases, generating the worst aerodynamic loads for parked and rotating rotor blades, while meeting the stiffness, strength, stability and resonance design requirements, as recommended by the wind turbine standards. The optimization cases are formulated as a single-objective, multi-constraint optimization problem, while taking into account the manufacturability of hybrid spars in particular, and it is solved using a genetic algorithm method. The blade mass lowers in the range of 8.1–13.3%, 18.5–20.7% and 25.7–26.4% for the optimized all-glass, hybrid and all-carbon spars, respectively, while the cost decreases for the optimized all-glass spars only. The cost increases in a range of 1.2–13.6% and 24.5–31.5% when the optimized hybrid and all-carbon spars are used. Further, the hybrid spar optimization using the blade mass and cost objective functions, as well as the effects of spar optimization on the blade’s structural performance in terms of tip deflection, strength, buckling resistance and first natural frequency, are discussed. Full article